The Pentagon reported on the increase in ammunition production
The U.S. Department of Defense has released the latest results of the increase in the production of various munitions.
The United States has invested $5.3 billion to expand domestic production capacity.
The released report reflects growth from 2022 to current production rates.
The report includes 155mm artillery shells and 155mm propelling charges, GMLRS for HIMARS rocket systems, Javelin anti-tank missiles, AIM-9X air-to-air missiles and PAC-3 MSE anti-aircraft missiles for the Patriot air defense system.
Production of ammunition:
- 155mm Projectiles: 14,400 per month to 40,000 per month (178% increase)
- 155mm Propelling Charge: 14,494 per month to 18,000 per month (24% increase)
- GMLRS: 833 per month to 1,167 per month (40% increase)
- Javelin: 175 per month to 200 per month (14% increase)
- AIM-9X: 116 per month to 137 per month (18% increase)
- PAC-3 MSE: 21 per month to 42 per month (100% increase)
It was possible to increase the production of barrels for 155 mm M777 howitzers from 11 per month to 16 per month.
The report also notes that the US defense industry produces 8 M142 HIMARS rocket systems per month.
The U.S. Department of Defense also noted that France and Sweden would double the capacity of ammunition and explosives loading by 2025, double the capacity of modular charges by 2026, and increase powder production capacity ten-fold by 2026.
“Sites in Germany, Spain, Hungary, South Africa, and Australia plan to increase production up to 700,000 artillery shells and up to 10,000 tons of gunpowder per year by 2025,” the Pentagon said.
This includes a new gunpowder factory in Romania as part of a project developed with the European Commission and a new artillery ammunition facility in Germany.
Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain will co-produce up to 1,000 Patriot GEM-T missiles in Germany.
As previously reported, the American D&M Holding Company constructed an ammunition factory in Ukraine.