US military to triple monthly production of 155 mm bullets

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff announces the intention to triple the monthly production of 155 mm bullets after approving a new aid package

The U.S. Army has declared its intention to increase its monthly production of artillery shells to 100,000 after Congress approved a military aid package to Ukraine. 

“With the supplemental that just thankfully passed last night, we’ll be at 100,000 rounds by next summer,” stated Lieutenant General James Mingus during an event hosted by the think tank CSIS.

Mignus asserted that this figure is triple the monthly quantity of artillery shells that should be manufactured in typical circumstances.

Consequently, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. will multiply its monthly production of 155 mm artillery shells by six.

According to military officials, achieving the objective of 100,000 rounds relies on obtaining the $3.1 billion requested in the previous version of the Ukraine supplement bill.

The White House announced on Wednesday that Ukraine will receive a new $1 billion tranche of diverse military aid, including artillery shells.

Officials did not disclose the allocation of funds for the 155mm artillery shells, which cost approximately $3,000 each.

Nevertheless, if 25% of the funds are designated for artillery, the roughly 80,000 shells acquired will only suffice for six weeks in Ukraine.

Last year, Doug Bush, the head of army procurement, declared that the military would expand its production facilities and develop new ones in Arkansas, Kansas and Texas.

The U.S. government regulates the production of artillery shells, which are not outsourced to private contractors.

In February, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake revealed that an undisclosed Turkish company had established a facility in Texas to produce 155 mm artillery ammunition.

Source: Newsroom