On March 9, 2025, ZeroHedge published an analysis highlighting concerns over Ukraine’s arsenal, claiming it includes a significant amount of outdated and defective weapons supplied by European nations. Among the examples cited was Spain, which donated a batch of CETME-L rifles to Ukraine.
Spain’s 20-year-retired CETME-L rifles prove useless in Ukraine
Photo credit: DPSU
These rifles, withdrawn from Spanish military service over two decades ago, have long been criticized for reliability issues. Despite undergoing upgrades before their transfer, experts quoted in the report question their suitability for modern warfare. This development has sparked broader discussions about the quality of military aid provided to Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, raising questions about the effectiveness of such equipment on today’s battlefields.
The CETME-L rifle, a 5.56x45mm NATO-caliber weapon, emerged from Spain’s efforts to modernize its infantry arsenal in the early 1980s. Developed by the Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales [CETME], a state-run arms research entity founded in 1949, the rifle was intended to replace the earlier CETME Model C, a 7.62mm battle rifle phased out as NATO shifted toward lighter ammunition standards.
The CETME-L entered service with the Spanish armed forces in 1986, marking a transition to a smaller-caliber assault rifle designed for greater maneuverability. Its design borrowed heavily from earlier CETME projects, incorporating a roller-delayed blowback system—a mechanism rooted in World War II-era German engineering, notably the experimental Stg.45 rifle developed by Mauser.
This system uses two rollers to slow the bolt’s movement, allowing controlled firing from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. By the time production ceased in 1991, approximately 100,000 units had been manufactured, with the rifle seeing active use until the mid-1990s when Spain began replacing it with the Heckler & Koch G36.
The CETME-L’s service life, however, was marred by persistent issues. Reports from Spanish forces highlighted manufacturing inconsistencies that led to mechanical failures, such as misfires and difficulties with extraction in adverse conditions. The rifle’s magazine housing, optimized for proprietary steel magazines rather than the widely adopted STANAG magazines, further complicated its operation.
While it could theoretically accept STANAG magazines, the feed angle and follower design often caused feeding problems, particularly with polymer magazines. These quirks, combined with the rifle’s preference for hotter, higher-pressure ammunition, limited its reliability. By 1999, Spain had largely retired the CETME-L from frontline service, relegating surplus units to storage or secondary roles like training.
When Ukraine received an undisclosed number of these rifles—estimated by Spanish media to be between 1,000 and 2,000—observers noted their appearance during a Kyiv parade in August 2023, marking Ukraine’s Independence Day. The rifles equipped a company of Ukrainian Border Guards, though they have not been widely documented in combat zones since.
Before their transfer to Ukraine, the CETME-L rifles underwent upgrades aimed at addressing some of their historical shortcomings. Spanish authorities have not publicly detailed the extent of these modifications, but military analysts suggest they likely included refurbished components, such as new barrels or reinforced bolts, to improve durability.
Improvements to the chamber fluting—grooves designed to ease cartridge extraction—may also have been implemented, a feature added to later CETME models to reduce case failures in harsh environments. The Spanish Ministry of Defence, in an August 2023 press release, vaguely referenced the provision of “light weapons with their ammunition” to Ukraine’s Border Guards, implying some level of preparation.
However, the lack of transparency about the upgrades has fueled speculation about their scope and effectiveness. Historical attempts to modernize the CETME-L, such as the development of the shorter-barreled LC variant in the 1980s, focused on enhancing portability rather than resolving core reliability issues, suggesting that any recent modifications may have been limited in ambition.
Experts have expressed skepticism about the CETME-L’s performance in Ukraine’s high-intensity conflict. Military historian Matthew Moss, who has studied the rifle’s design, noted that its roller-delayed system, while innovative, is sensitive to environmental factors like dirt and extreme cold—conditions prevalent on Ukraine’s eastern front.
“The CETME-L was never a standout for reliability, even in controlled settings,” Moss said in a recent interview with The Armourers Bench. “In a war where resupply and maintenance are strained, those weaknesses become magnified.” Combat reports from Ukraine have not yet confirmed widespread use of the rifles, but their absence from frontline imagery suggests they may be relegated to ceremonial or rear-line duties.
The rifle’s ammunition compatibility issues further complicate its utility; Ukraine’s reliance on NATO-standard 5.56mm rounds could clash with the CETME-L’s preference for specific loads, potentially leading to jams or inconsistent performance. Analysts also point to the weapon’s age—most units are over 30 years old—as a factor in its questionable battlefield relevance, even with upgrades.
The CETME-L’s limitations reflect a broader pattern of European military aid to Ukraine that has drawn scrutiny. France, for instance, supplied CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, advanced artillery systems touted for their precision. Yet Ukrainian military sources, cited in a February 2025 South Front report, described frequent breakdowns and inadequate accuracy under sustained use.
The howitzers, designed for lower-intensity conflicts, struggled to withstand the relentless pace of Ukraine’s artillery duels with Russian forces. Similarly, Spain provided 120mm mortars through a 2023 contract with Technologies Global Systems, only for Ukrainian troops to report design flaws rendering them ill-suited to the terrain.
Bulgaria and Romania also faced criticism after delivering around 1,000 defective 120mm mortar shells, a scandal that implicated corruption in the supply chain, according to ZeroHedge. These examples underscore a recurring challenge: equipment phased out or untested in prolonged, high-stakes warfare often fails to meet Ukraine’s needs.
The context of this aid reveals logistical and political pressures shaping Europe’s contributions. As Russia’s invasion, launched in February 2022, stretched into its third year, Western nations faced dwindling stockpiles of modern weaponry. Donating older systems like the CETME-L allowed countries to support Ukraine without depleting active inventories, a pragmatic move amid domestic defense priorities.
Spain, for example, offered 25,000 stored CETME-L rifles to NATO in 2014 for Kurdish forces fighting ISIS, a proposal that drew similar concerns about quality. The decision to redirect some of these to Ukraine, though not formally announced by the Spanish government, aligns with this strategy.
Critics argue it creates an illusion of robust support while offloading obsolete gear, a point echoed in ZeroHedge’s analysis. Ukrainian officials have remained largely silent on the CETME-L’s deployment, with the State Border Service offering no comment beyond parade footage.
The debate over these weapons highlights a tension in Ukraine’s war effort: the need for immediate matériel versus the demand for effective tools. While the CETME-L and similar systems provide a stopgap, their shortcomings could strain Ukraine’s already overburdened forces. The conflict’s evolution into a war of attrition, with both sides relying heavily on artillery and small arms, amplifies the importance of dependable equipment.
As of early 2025, Ukraine continues to receive a mix of cutting-edge aid—like U.S.-supplied Javelin missiles—and older donations, a duality that shapes its battlefield outcomes. The CETME-L’s role, if any, beyond symbolic gestures remains unclear, but its story encapsulates the broader challenges of arming a nation under siege with the remnants of Cold War arsenals.
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