After aiding Ukrainian , the US military realized that the existing ammunition inventory was already insufficient. If you want to prepare for the next war, you need to refille the inventories of ammunition as soon as possible and purchase more quantities.
Urgent Assistant Secretary for Procurement, Logistics and Technology, Doug Bush, recently publicly stated that the U.S. Army has planned to significantly accelerate the production of 155mm shells and precision-guided rockets to fill the gaps caused by the U.S. ammunition aid provided to Ukraine. Because, the US military will need more shells, rockets, and missiles, equipment in the next war.
Bush mentioned: "We are seeking to increase the output of 155mm shells nearly triple in a few years. Congress has also supported this work; we have sufficient funds now; and are implementing and achieving this goal. In addition, we will also work hard to significantly increase the productivity of GLMRS guided rockets, double or higher based on current production. This guided rocket is the US military's current M270 MLRS tracked rocket launcher and HIMARS One of the main ammunition used in the high-mobile artillery rocket launcher system.
According to Pentagon , since Russia launched a "special military operation" against Ukraine in late February, the US military has provided about 807,000 155mm howitzers to Ukrainians and 144,000 105mm shells. The number of GLMRS guided rockets used for 16 HIMARS multi-barrel rocket launchers to aid Ukraine was not disclosed.
Bush said that the situation is that the U.S. Congress is providing us with the funds needed to supplement the vacant shells and missile stocks, while continuing to support Ukraine. I don’t know how long the conflict will last, but the production efficiency of ammunition does need to be improved and is already in progress. What we have to do is make sure that if the war lasts for a long time, we will have enough quantity to support it. And it is always good to buy all types of ammunition in bulk.
In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict that has been going on for more than 200 days, people have discovered so-called advanced weapons and technology. The technology can play a relatively limited role without the guarantee of quantity. Traditional body-barred artillery and rocket launcher became the star equipment in this conflict and one of the most important weapons in the arsenal of both sides of the conflict. The howitzers and HIMARS multi-barred rocket launcher systems provided by the United States and other allies to Ukraine can help the Ukrainian army engage in corresponding artillery battles with Russia, and even attack important targets far behind. This also led to the intensity of artillery battles between the two sides becoming very fierce. In June, when the war was most stalemate, the Ukrainian army had to fire 5,000-6,000 shells a day, while the number of shells counterattacks by the Russian army exceeded nearly 10 times.
In August, the " Wall Street Journal " For the first time, some Pentagon officials feared that the Ukraine war had exhausted U.S. ammunition stocks. A defense official, who asked not to be named, told the newspaper that the inventory of 155mm shells had dropped to "disturbing low levels" but the situation was not critical because the U.S. military is not currently involved in major conflicts.
Bush explained these concerns, saying that the production rate of 155mm shells now meets the current U.S. military needs for combat and training. But Bush declined to say how many shells the U.S. Army currently has.
And, when a reporter asked if the U.S. Army had enough shells if there were major wars in the near future, Bush declined to comment on the topic. Just say, I'm not the one who can give such an answer. I can't speak on these things on behalf of the entire army, you can ask this question to the higher level. All I can say is that when it comes to procurement, we are doing our best to increase productivity in order to reduce any potential risks.
However, he also warned that it will take time to increase the production of shells and precision guided rockets.Typically, it takes up to a year to increase the production line of HIMARS rockets, and the U.S. Department of Defense is working closely with local industry to speed up the process, while the U.S. military is asking allies to provide shells to Ukraine.
Bush believes that these goals will be achieved more in a few months to a year.
US Army currently has factory facilities for producing propellant and explosives for 155mm shells. The shell itself is manufactured in private factories owned by the Army Ammunition Factory and General Power Ordnance and Tactical Systems, both of which are located in Pennsylvania . The shells will then be assembled together in the Army Ammunition Factory in Iowa.
and the US government retains the practice of ammunition factories. Bush said that this means we are not starting from scratch, but have some manufacturing capabilities, so that we can increase production in a timely manner.
