British Army runs out of heavy guns after pledging 30 AS90s to Ukraine

Artillery regiments run out of… artillery: British Army is ‘stripped of heavy guns after defence chiefs pledged to give 30 working AS90s to Ukraine’

• The British Army reportedly has no heavy guns left after donation to Ukraine 
• There are concerns the decision could leave Britain in a vulnerable position
• But the consensus is Ukraine needs the weapons more to stave off Russia 

The British Army reportedly has no heavy guns left anywhere in the country after handing them all over to Ukraine to assist in the efforts against the Russian invasion.

Defence chiefs have pledged all 30 working AS90s to Kyiv and are now urgently seeking K9 Thunders and Archer guns to replenish their stocks.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The granting in kind of AS90 will provide an important increase in Ukraine’s capabilities and will help to accelerate Ukrainian success on the battlefield. 

‘Concurrently, the Army is continuing to meet its operational AS90 commitment in Estonia.’

The spokesperson said the Army is now focused on accelerating the ‘Mobile Fires Platform project which is designed to deliver an enduring replacement this decade’.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told MailOnline the army is continuing to meet operational commitments to Estonia. Pictured: Britain’s armoured vehicles prepare to move at the Tapa Military Camp, in Estonia, in January

Defence chiefs have pledged all 30 working AS90s to Kyiv and are now urgently seeking K9 Thunders and Archer guns to replenish their stocks

In the interim, work is ‘being undertaken at pace to replenish AS90 in the short term’.

And a source told The Sun: ‘These guns were designed to fight Russian forces. No one needs them more than Ukraine.’

A second source added:  ‘If gunners don’t have guns we can’t fight, we can’t train.’

There are concerns the decision could leave Britain in a vulnerable position, particularly given the guns linked to the Mobile Fires Platform aren’t due to arrive until 2029.

In a letter obtained by the Daily Mail last week, General Sir Patrick Sanders spelled out the realities for Britain of donating so much of its military equipment. 

The UK is sending 14 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks, along with recovery vehicles, vast quantities of spare parts, hundreds of armoured vehicles, the AS90 artillery heavy guns, high-velocity rockets and drones.

The latest package of aid, alongside contributions from Nato allies, is intended to break the deadlock on the battlefields of Ukraine.

After months of stalemate, Ukraine and Russia are planning spring offensives – the success or failure of which could determine the outcome of the war.

Defence chiefs have pledged all 30 working AS90s to Kyiv and are now urgently seeking K9 Thunders and Archer guns to replenish their stocks. Pictured: Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace

A challenger 2 Main Battle Tank pictured during a Land Combat demonstration in October 2018

As the first anniversary of Moscow’s invasion approaches, there are mounting concerns Putin is planning to launch a new offensive

In an unprecedented intervention, Gen Sir Patrick told troops: ‘Giving away these capabilities will leave us temporarily weaker as an Army, there is no denying it.

‘There is no doubt our choice will impact on our ability to mobilise the Army against the acute and enduring threat Russia presents and meet our Nato obligations.

‘Our tank crews and gunners will feel the impact the most. But the decision also brings the opportunity to accelerate the modernisation and transformation of the Army ahead of Russia. Ukraine needs our tanks and guns now. I know they will put them to good use.’

It comes as two people were killed and seven more injured in the latest Russian strike on Ukraine, razing a residential building this evening. 

Vladimir Putin is preparing for an ‘imminent’ new strike on Ukraine by bolstering his forces – but Kyiv is standing firm, with one senior soldier threatening to send Kremlin troops ‘home in body bags’

It comes as two people were killed and seven more injured in the latest Russian strike on Ukraine, razing a residential building this evening 

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