The United States is seeking to increase supplies of 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine to support a counteroffensive against Russian invasion forces.

However, they are facing obstacles in their efforts.

According to US officials cited by the Financial Times, the United States has already concluded agreements with foreign suppliers and is working to increase its own ammunition production.

American efforts are currently focused on supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine with more 155mm shells.

The publication states that the Biden administration has known for several months about the high rate of ammunition use in Ukraine and intensified efforts to deliver more shells to Kyiv.

Citing officials, the Financial Times writes that “the US has already concluded agreements with Bulgaria and South Korea on the supply of shells to Ukraine and is negotiating the same with Japan.”

In turn, the U.S. Army’s efforts to increase the monthly output of large-caliber artillery ammunition to 90,000 will continue through fiscal year 2025, compared to the 24,000 155mm shells currently being produced. Currently, production takes place mainly at four state-owned and contractor-operated enterprises.

The US Army is building more production lines, as well as converting a facility in Ontario, Canada, and building a new assembly line in Texas. New facilities for the production of 155 mm shells may also be established in Arkansas, Iowa, and Kansas.

The lack of high-explosive incendiary was the reason for President Joe Biden’s decision last month to allow the delivery of cluster artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The decision “helped ensure that Ukraine has the ammunition it needs and will not run out,” one US official said. According to US officials, Ukraine now fires up to 8,000 artillery shots daily.

In May, Militarnyi reported that South Korea is transferring hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds to the United States, which are then supplied to Ukraine, as learned by the journalists of the Wall Street Journal. However, the White House and the South Korean government have not commented on the confidential arrangement.

In June, it was reported that Japan is negotiating to provide artillery shells to replenish the US reserves in exchange for ammunition supplied to Ukraine.

Militarnyi previously reported that the U.S. plans to involve Japan in the artillery shell production chain by arranging the supply of Japanese explosives. This step should compensate for the shortage of explosives on the world market, which is necessary for the production of ammunition, which in particular is supplied to Ukraine.