The European Commission proposed extending its flagship ammunition production subsidy programme by an additional year, according to Euractiv.
The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), initially set to expire in 2025, would now run until the end of 2026 under a draft “mini-Omnibus” package unveiled this week, with provisions for EU states to voluntarily top up funding.
Launched in 2023 with a €500 million budget, ASAP was designed to streamline EU supply chains for shells, missiles, and explosives, addressing chronic undercapacity that hampered efforts to arm Ukraine and replenish national stockpiles. The Commission claims the scheme has already boosted production of propellants, testing infrastructure, and missile components across the bloc.
A Commission spokesperson said the move pre-emptively would create “the possibility” for member states or “other stakeholders” to inject voluntary contributions, potentially unlocking new projects or bolstering existing ones.
However, ambiguity remains over how any additional cash would be allocated, with industry players uncertain whether to expect new tenders or sustained support for current ventures.
The proposal underscores Brussels’ scramble to transform Europe’s fragmented defence sector into a wartime-ready industrial base. The war in Ukraine laid bare the EU’s reliance on overseas suppliers and sluggish production rates, prompting a slew of initiatives to accelerate self-sufficiency.
