The U.S. Army said Congress doubled to $6 billion its request for funds to acquire and build 155-millimeter artillery rounds so it could replace depleted stocks with shipments to Ukraine and now Israel, an Army official said. Thursday.
Demand for 155mm artillery shells has skyrocketed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Allies' supplies for their own defense have been running out as they scrambled to ship shells to kyiv, which launches thousands of rounds a day.
"By my calculations, in the supplement we asked for about $3.1 billion related to the 155 and the increase in production. It looks like we have gotten $6 billion. So that, I think, is a vote of confidence on our path to 100,000 shells a month," said Doug Bush, chief of arms purchasing for the Army.
The US military included $3.1 billion to purchase artillery cartridges and expand production in the recently signed $95 billion supplemental bill.
The United States plans to increase its monthly production rate of 155-millimeter artillery shells to 100,000 in the summer of 2025, Bush told reporters Thursday.
General Dynamics GD.N benefits from Pentagon spending to replace equipment sent to Ukraine, including 155-millimeter artillery.
