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Slovak defence firms can now apply for EU ammunition and missile production ramp-up funding

Ministry of Defence of The Slovak Republic

18.10.2023

The European Commission (EC) has today published calls for proposals to award grants for projects under the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP). Thanks to this instrument, defence manufacturers in the EU and Norway will be able to get funding as the EU incentivises the ramp-up of the European defence industry's artillery ammunition and missile production. Towards this end, ASAP has allocated €470m for projects by European defence manufacturers.

In a statement, Defence Minister Martin Sklenár said: "This initiative is the third pillar of our joint efforts on the basis of which our European partners and we want to quickly deliver one million pieces of ammunition to Ukraine. With the allocated funds, the Union will specifically support the production of artillery ammunition, missiles and their components. Companies from all EU member countries - including those from Slovakia - will be given the chance to receive funds. I am convinced that our domestic defence industry has not only the professional but also production potential for this."

According to Mr Sklenár, Slovak arms manufactures have the opportunity to receive significant support from the EU to ramp up their manufacturing capacity, both for the replenishment of domestic stocks and for the needs of Ukraine. These investments will be made to match increased demand for defence industry products in the years ahead. If SVK defence firms are selected under ASAP, this will lead to Slovakia's economic growth and employment opportunities.

Defence companies will now have from 18 October 2023 to 13 December 2023 to answer the calls for proposals. The projects and beneficiaries of the funds will be selected by the end of February and the grant agreements are expected to be signed in April 2024. More information on the calls for proposals can be viewed online, once you have registered on the European Commission's website at Funding & tenders (europa.eu), under European Defence Fund (EDF) after inserting "ASAP" in the Search Funding & Tenders.