Brussels, Belgium: Howitzers from Belgium have been sent to the Ukrainian frontlines. According to the reports, the United Kingdom brought the weapons at a higher price after Belgium refused to pay for them.
On Wednesday, in 2015, the nation sold about 25 heavy-wheeled guns at €15,000 each to private companies but wanted to repurchase the weapons to send them to the war-torn country. By then, the market price of the weapons had reached €150,000, which made the whole shipment cost €5 million.
Belgium’s government hesitated and refused to pay the increased price, pushing the United Kingdom to buy them instead of sending them to the Armed forces of Ukraine.
As per the information shared, the sources stated, “A missed opportunity for Belgium to support Ukraine militarily. Our government could have shopped in its own nation for a market-based cost.”
Along with this, the market price increased with stress by the companies who had bought the M109s were renewed inside, had a semi-automatic charging system built in as well as that the years of storage also increased the price.
A direct arms source shared the information that the market price for M198 howitzers is now higher than it was five years ago.
The sources mentioned in the statement, “But the market for second-hand military equipment looks completely different with the war in Ukraine. All of the people now wants to purchase usable, well-preserved second-hand military equipment. The demand for howitzers among the people is now much higher, as well as the supply is limited.”
“Whoever thinks that Flemish companies on the second-hand military equipment market could demand spectacularly over what the market is ready to pay knows little about these types of specific sales. This is a small market, but here too, the laws of supply as well as demand apply.”
