EU state’s civilian factories start manufacturing arms in Cold War revival – media

Czech arms giant Czechoslovak Group (CSG) is reviving Cold War-era explosives factories and repurposing civilian plants for military use as NATO races to replenish dwindling ammunition stocks, Rapporteur has reported.

The company is reopening long-shuttered facilities to secure critical chemicals needed for artillery shells, the outlet said on Monday, citing CSG’s external relations director, Jan Hamacek.

The push spans Greece and Germany. In the Greek town of Lavrio, CSG is reportedly preparing to restart TNT production alongside state-owned Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS) in early 2027. Meanwhile, a civilian nitrocellulose plant in Germany’s Walsrode is being converted for military use, while another facility in Gnaschwitz is being developed to produce nitroglycerin and related explosives.

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CSG aims to control supplies of key components for NATO-standard 155mm artillery shells, reducing its dependence on outside suppliers.

“Once completed, this will provide significant production capacity in Europe – roughly a third of European consumption,”

Hamacek said.

The reported revival comes as European NATO members ramp up military spending and weapons production, citing the alleged threat from Russia and the need to rebuild arsenals depleted by years of arms deliveries to Ukraine.

The Wall Street Journal wrote in July that Europe faced severe shortages of TNT and nitrocellulose, both essential to artillery ammunition. At the time, Poland reportedly operated the continent’s only active TNT factory, while European manufacturers remained heavily dependent on Chinese raw materials.

According to the WSJ, NATO members have launched at least 24 projects to expand explosives production and tackle supply-chain bottlenecks.

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The strain extends beyond artillery shells. In July, the Netherlands acknowledged that it had exhausted its capacity to supply Kiev with additional Patriot interceptor missiles from its own stocks, having already provided interceptors and helped assemble a complete Patriot air defense system for Ukraine.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that Europe’s military buildup risks provoking a confrontation with Russia. Russian officials have said that expanding NATO infrastructure near the country’s borders would prompt additional security measures.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed claims that Russia intends to attack NATO countries as

“horror stories”

used to justify higher military spending and prepare European populations for further militarization. Moscow maintains that it has neither the intention nor any geopolitical, economic or military reason to attack the US-led bloc, while stressing that it would defend itself if attacked.