U.S. Fails to Meet 100,000-Shell Monthly Production Goal

The U.S. Army is significantly behind its goal of producing 100,000 155mm artillery shells per month because a plant in Mesquite, Texas, has not produced a single usable component for the M795 shell since its official opening in 2024.

This was reported by CBS News.

Despite the goal of reaching 100,000 shells per month by October 2025, the United States was producing only 36,000 per month as of March 2026, according to a report published this month by the Department of War Office of Inspector General.

According to the report, the Pentagon has reduced its stockpile of 155mm artillery shells by 3.6 million rounds over the past four years.

More than 3 million rounds were transferred to Ukraine as part of military aid packages approved by the Biden administration. Approximately 112,000 rounds were used for training and testing, while another 218,000 were sold to other countries.

Based on consumption in Ukraine and projected overseas sales, the Army set a goal in 2024 of increasing production of 155mm artillery shells from 14,000 per month to 100,000 by October 2025. Production was increased to 50,000 shells per month during 2024, and the Army invested in a plant in Mesquite to ensure the production of necessary components.

“The Army’s expenditure of $469 million to establish the Mesquite facility could have been used to address other Army or DoW priorities,” the report states.

The plant, owned and operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS), was launched in 2022, when the U.S. Army awarded GDOTS a contract for the Mesquite facility.

The project had previously caused discontent among military officials because of delays to the production plans. The Texas facility was scheduled to produce 30,000 155mm shells per month by October 2025.

“We appreciate the collaborative efforts of the US Army in working toward a positive resolution that enables this facility to deliver essential munitions to the US military,” a GDOTS spokesman wrote in a brief statement to Breaking Defense on July 14.

The only plant meeting its targets is the GDOTS plant in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, which is producing 21,000 shells per month, as planned.

Demand for artillery has declined somewhat as the approach to warfare in Ukraine’s war with Russia has shifted toward greater use of drones, but the initial pace of spending has highlighted problems with the U.S. defense industry’s ability to rapidly produce weapons.