Industry Watch
Army Misses 155mm Shell Production Target
Industrial and supply chain hurdles delay U.S. Army's artillery ramp-up until 2026
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Army has confirmed it will not meet its October 2025 goal of producing 100,000 155mm artillery rounds per month, a target set amid depleted stockpiles from supplying Ukraine. Instead, output is expected to reach that mark by mid-2026. Current production remains at 40,000 rounds per month, with delays tied to long lead times for specialized equipment, underperforming contractors, and the complexities of introducing new manufacturing technologies. Key bottlenecks include a troubled modular metal parts facility in Mesquite, Texas, operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, and reliance on foreign sources for TNT. While modernization at multiple facilities in Illinois, Florida, Arkansas, and Canada shows progress, the service acknowledges that critical path risks persist. Military analysts warn that the delays raise questions about the U.S. defense industrial bases ability to surge in a crisis. Army officials are exploring foreign military sales to maintain production lines post-ramp-up.