One year into efforts to boost production of artillery rounds for Ukraine, the United States and Europe are seeing radically different results. The U.S. has increased its output of 155mm shells far faster than originally forecasted, and plans to increase it further. Europe has moved slower than intended due to the consensus-focused nature of NATO and the EU. This is despite Europe’s reputation for state-owned businesses. The U.S. progress is made possible by state-control of ammo manufacturing while Europe’s dilemma is set by market conditions.
The United States has significantly increased its production of 155mm shells in a short amount of time, while Europe is hampered by NATO and EU bureaucracy. The U.S. Army has increased production from around 14,000 to 28,000 shells in October and has plans to produce 100,000 rounds by the end of 2025, pending budget approval. Europe has also increased production, but it remains overshadowed by the U.S. figures in terms of target numbers.
In Europe, current projections suggest an increase in production rates, with Estonia’s Defense Minister estimating a required 3 million rounds annually in the next 10 years. Beyond the differences in production numbers, there are also varying costs and factors that affect each side’s production capabilities.
