The CSG is on the path to achieving a unique position within the European defence industry – becoming the largest manufacturer of artillery ammunition with the ambition to build a complete production chain for large-caliber ammunition.
Europe is currently facing a shortage of capacity to produce all components of artillery ammunition, with annual consumption – for example, in Ukraine – reaching up to 2.4 million rounds. The production involves four main components: the shell body, explosive charge, fuze, and propellant. At MSM GROUP, we manufacture several of these essential components – including shell bodies and fuzes.
Our Slovak plants are becoming a strategic hub for production. In Snina, at the ZVS holding facility, we launched a new production line for 155 mm artillery ammunition in October last year. This caliber represents a significant portion of the demand from European armed forces and NATO. Starting next year, our production of this type of ammunition is expected to reach 360,000 rounds annually.
A key part of MSM GROUP’s broader plan is the construction of new chemical plants. The production of propellant charges, which we plan to launch at the revitalized Chemko Strážske site, is expected to begin in the second half of 2027. This €350 million investment is of critical importance – it could make MSM GROUP the second-largest producer of large-caliber ammunition in Europe, right after Germany’s Rheinmetall.
Our joint projects with CSG extend beyond Slovakia. In Walsrode, Germany, CSG is preparing to convert a civilian nitrocellulose production facility to military-grade manufacturing. Nitrocellulose is a key raw material for the production of propellants. In Greece, a joint venture is being established with the state-owned company Hellenic Defence Systems to restart TNT production – an essential explosive component for artillery shells.
We are proud that MSM GROUP is helping shape the future of European defence. Together with CSG, we are building production capabilities that have a real impact on the security of the continent. Our know-how, technologies, and reliable people are driving this transformation. We are becoming a vital player on the map of the European defence industry.