According to the New York Times, the massive increase in the production of artillery ammunition is meant to both make up for shortfalls caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine and to build up stockpiles for future wars.
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the U.S. produced 14,000 shells monthly, sufficient for the American military’s style of war, the New York Times reported. But with the thousands of ammunition delivered by the US to the Ukrainian army, so depleting the U.S. stocks, it has become urgent to replenish these stocks while keeping on the deliveries to Ukraine. Hence, the Pentagon is now aiming to boost the production of artillery shells by 500%.
The move is part of “the most aggressive modernization effort in nearly 40 years” for the U.S. defense industry and will involve expanding factoring and finding new producers, the New York Times reported, citing an Army report.
Most of the artillery ammunition requested by Ukraine consists of 155mm shells to ‘’feed’’ the numerous howitzers and self-propelled howitzers received from various Western suppliers involved in helping Ukraine fight its Russian invaders.