Official announcements from the US Department of Defense or related government agencies

US Invests $5 Billion to Boost Monthly Artillery Shell Production to 100,000 Units Amid Ukraine War

Jun 8, 2024, 03:35 AM

The ongoing war in Ukraine has exposed significant shortcomings in the United States' ability to produce conventional armaments, particularly artillery shells. Despite being known as 'the arsenal of democracy' during World War II, decades of neglect and a focus on high-tech weaponry have left the US with severely outdated ammunition plants. Prior to the Ukraine conflict, US production averaged 14,400 shells per month. In response to the increased demand, the US government is now investing over $5 billion to modernize factories across the country, including those in Scranton, Pennsylvania, rural Louisiana, and southwest Virginia, with the goal of producing 100,000 155mm shells monthly. This overhaul is crucial as the US seeks to maintain its defense capabilities and support its allies. Two years later, the government is still finding it challenging to meet production demands, posing an existential crisis for the nation's ability to protect itself.