The United States has increased the production rate of 155-mm cannon tubes for M777 lightweight howitzers and M109 self-propelled howitzers.

Breaking Defense reported on this.

Over the past three months, the US Army’s Watervliet Arsenal has been forging more cannon tubes at a rate not seen in 40 years, according to Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor, the commander of the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.

And while there is still room to grow inside the arsenal, he said, secondary sources could offer the service with a glidepath to quickly scaling production.

The U.S. Department of Defense has allocated $161 million to open a new cannon tube production line.

Currently, companies are being selected that will be able to start production as soon as possible, which is 12 to 18 months after the agreement is signed and the relevant technical documentation for the production of the guns is transferred.

According to the Pentagon’s December 17, 2024 budget document, the United States seeks to increase its gun production from 10 to at least 30 per month.

First of all, this refers to the production of 155 mm M776 cannon tubes, which are used by M777 howitzers and form the basis of US trailer artillery. They are also the most mass-produced 155 mm howitzer in Ukraine.

The acceleration of production will also affect the M284 guns used by the M109 self-propelled howitzer, which is one of the most popular in Ukraine.

The resumption of high production rates is directly related to Ukraine’s use of these systems, which can fire up to 2-3 thousand rounds daily.

At the same time, General Michael Lalor notes that the life of the cannon tube was much longer than stated when these howitzers were put into service, which only confirms its reliability.

Militarnyi previously reported that the United States would resume TNT production for the army on its territory for the first time in 40 years.

A new TNT plant will be built in Graham, Kentucky, by the American branch of the Turkish artillery ammunition manufacturer Repkon USA.