The U.S. Army is planning to triple its monthly production of 155mm shells following the passage of the Ukraine supplemental, with a goal of reaching 100,000 rounds by next summer. The increase from 30,000 shells this month to 100,000 represents a sixfold increase since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The service is expanding production facilities in Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas.
Investments at the Texas production facility have already increased the productivity of shells by 83 percent, according to General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic. In contrast to the U.S., 155mm manufacturing in Europe is managed by private companies, causing delays in delivering artillery rounds to Ukraine. Ukraine faces a critical shortage of artillery shells, with Russia outshooting them five to one.
The White House recently announced a new $1 billion tranche of military aid to Ukraine, with some funds expected to be allocated to artillery rounds that cost $3,000 each. However, even if one-quarter of the funds are used for artillery, the roughly 80,000 rounds that would buy will only last Ukraine about six weeks at their current rate of fire.
