US Significantly Increases Production of 155mm Shells for Ukraine

A US plant that produces ammunition for Ukraine has increased production by 50% and plans to commission additional facilities in the near future.

This is reported by the Associated Press.

The plant, which is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, cuts and forges 907 kg steel bars for 155 mm howitzer shells. The billets are then shipped to Iowa, where they are fitted with explosives, after which many of the munitions are shipped to Ukraine.

Officials interviewed said that this plant, along with two other munitions plants in neighbouring Wilkes-Barre, recently increased production from 24,000 rounds to 36,000 rounds per month. 

At the same time, the defence production facility's management said that three new production lines are under development, which will allow the company to produce even more critical shells.

‘We are currently focused on 155mm shells. We are working very hard to ensure that we meet the target set by the Pentagon,’ said Richard Hansen, a spokesman for the company's CEO.

According to the government, the United States has sent more than three million 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022.

On 29 July, the US announced a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine. Before that, the last military aid package - worth $225 million - was announced on 11 July, which included one Patriot air defence system.