US Army Requests $3 Billion for 155 mm Artillery Rounds and Production, According to Reuters

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army is seeking Congressional approval for $3.1 billion to acquire 155 millimeter artillery rounds and to enhance production capabilities to replace stocks that have been depleted through shipments to Ukraine and Israel, an Army official stated on Tuesday.

Over the past 600 days of conflict, the U.S. and its allies have delivered more than 2 million rounds of 155 ammunition to Ukraine to assist in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Additionally, the U.S. has supplied artillery to Israel in its ongoing battle with Hamas.

Doug Bush, the Army’s chief weapons buyer, informed reporters that the supplemental funding currently under Congressional consideration is part of President Joe Biden’s broader $106 billion request. This funding aims to modernize or establish 155 millimeter artillery production facilities in several states, including Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, and California.

Bush emphasized that this funding would not only expand production lines but also strengthen the economy and create new job opportunities. Of the proposed $3.1 billion for 155 artillery, approximately half is designated for increasing industrial capacity while the rest is allocated for purchasing rounds.

Furthermore, other components of Biden’s $106 billion supplemental request, distinct from the $3.1 billion for 155 millimeter artillery, will support the expansion of various munitions. This includes enhancing the annual production rate of Patriot air defense interceptors from 550 to 650.

The demand for 155 mm artillery rounds has surged since the onset of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, as allies have depleted their own supplies while rapidly sending shells to support Kyiv, which uses thousands of rounds daily.

The U.S. aims to ramp up its monthly production of 155 millimeter artillery shells to 100,000 by 2025. Recent earnings reports from General Dynamics indicate that the company has benefited from increased Pentagon spending to replenish equipment sent to Ukraine, including 155 millimeter artillery.