By the end of 2025, the Pentagon plans to quadruple the production of 155-mm artillery shells supplied to Ukraine.
Source. This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to the words of the Assistant Secretary of the US Army for Procurement Douglas Bush.
Currently, according to Bush, the United States produces about 28,000 rounds of ammunition per month, which is already twice as much as in February 2022.
The production of shells will increase gradually: first from 28 to 36 thousand shells per month, then from 48 to 57 thousand, in early 2025 – up to 80 thousand shells, and up to 100 thousand by the end of 2025.
The supply of military equipment and shells to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger surface-to-air missiles, has depleted American stockpiles. This prompted the United States to implement the largest plan since the end of World War II. Bush said $2.5 billion will be allocated for the production of 155 mm caliber shells, three quarters of the $3.4 billion aimed at expanding the capacity of the US military industry.
Bush noted that first of all, the United States is increasing the capacity of existing enterprises, either state-owned or contractor-operated. Then, the US plans to launch new plants: in Canada, a metal parts production facility will be put into operation in 2024, and a General Dynamics Corporation facility is being built in Texas, which will cost about $500 million to equip.
In addition, the United States wants to increase production of IMX, an explosive compound chosen to replace trinitrotoluene (TNT) in shells. The army is also looking for funding to produce TNT domestically, as it is currently being bought abroad, for example, in Poland.
According to Bush, when the army reaches the production of 100,000 shells per month, the US administration will have to spend $3.5 billion a year on their purchase.
Background. As a reminder, the Pentagon has warned the US Congress about the lack of funds to replace the US military supplies that were previously sent to Ukraine.