US increases production of 155mm shells to 50,000 per month

William LaPlante, the US Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Supply, said that the country had significantly increased production of 155mm artillery ammunition: up to 50,000 per month.

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By the end of the year, the United States plans to increase the production of artillery ammunition to 55,000 units per month. This growth is made possible by upgrading and building new production facilities in several states, including Pennsylvania, Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas.

Before the war in Ukraine, the US produced only about 14,000 shells per month, but support for the Ukrainian army forced a significant expansion of production.

The Pentagon is investing billions of dollars to increase production capacity to replenish stockpiles, much of which has already been transferred to Ukraine. In fiscal year 2024, $3.1 billion was allocated for this purpose. In the long term, the US goal is to achieve production of 100,000 shells per month.

Until 2022, all 155mm shell casings were manufactured at just one plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and a private facility nearby. They were then transported to a plant in Iowa, where they were filled with explosives.

As a reminder, in May 2024, a new plant was opened in Texas with the capacity to produce up to 30,000 shell casings per month. This will significantly reduce the burden on previous production facilities. In addition, for the first time in 40 years, the United States will resume TNT production on its territory for the needs of the army.

Source: X