MSM North America Will Start Producing 432,000 155 mm Shells Per Year in US

The new ‘Artillery System of the Future’ from MSM North America will enable the US to manufacture 432,000 155 mm shells per year in Iowa.

The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which owns MSM North America, reported that the Pentagon’s investment amounted to $632 million.

MSM North America will build new production facilities at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant to fill shells with explosives, assemble them, and package them.

“This will enable the loading of 36,000 155 mm artillery shells per month, which will be a vital element of the defense capabilities of the United States and its allies,” CSG said.

This is a unique case where a strategic project for the US Army is being implemented by a company owned by a European defense industrial group. The contract was signed on August 15th.

The Future Artillery Complex will be the world’s most advanced explosive loading facility.

Construction is scheduled to be completed within 40 months, with full production expected to begin in September 2029.

The facility will employ approximately 70 highly skilled professionals and will have a significant economic impact on Iowa by providing jobs in the state.

MSM North America is the general contractor, coordinating the design, construction, and implementation of the systems in conjunction with the US Army.

Key partners include WIELAND (construction), IPS Custom Automation (robotic solutions), and DetTX (energy processing, safety, and environmental protection).

Also participating in the project are Cromwell Architects Engineers (architecture), SMS (safety engineering), Weldon Solutions (automation), VJ Technologies (X-ray equipment), and Lee Industries (boiler manufacturing).

Czechoslovak Group is one of the key manufacturers of large-caliber ammunition.

The company controls almost the entire production cycle — from raw materials (trinitrotoluene, nitrocellulose) to finished 155 and 120 mm ammunition — at its plants in Europe: in Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Serbia, and Greece.

“This integrated approach ensures reliable supply chains and enables us to meet critical defense needs, including significant deliveries of 155 mm artillery ammunition and other shells for Ukraine,” CSG emphasized.

In July, the Czech defense giant consolidated its production of the entire range of artillery ammunition by acquiring medium-caliber shell manufacturer ZVI Vsetín.