The Pentagon has plans of increasing its production of artillery ammunition by 500% in the next two years, according to a New York Times report published on January 24, 2022. This comes at a time when the US is sending millions of shells to Ukraine — a move that is dangerously depleting its artillery stockpiles.
Ever since Russia launched its military incursion into Ukraine, the US has promised to send Ukraine over one million 155mm artillery shells. Prior to the US Army starting efforts to boost production, it produced
14,400 155mm shells monthly. However, under this new plan, the number could reach north of 90,000 on a monthly basis.
Per the New York Times report, the Army reported that the plan will involve applying factories and bringing in new producers to the fold in a campaign described as “the most aggressive modernization effort in nearly 40 years” of the American military-industrial complex.