U.S. Struggles to Ramp Up Artillery Shell Production at Texas Plant

Automation issues and supply chain problems hamper efforts to reach 100,000 rounds per month target

Mar. 3, 2026 at 1:07am

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The U.S. Army is facing difficulties in ramping up production of 155mm artillery shells at a new plant in Mesquite, Texas operated by General Dynamics. Despite plans to reach a target of 100,000 rounds per month, the plant is currently only producing around 56,000 shells due to problems with implementing automated production lines and shortages of explosives and gunpowder.

Why it matters

The inability to quickly and smoothly increase artillery shell production raises concerns about the U.S. military's ability to ramp up manufacturing in the event of a protracted, full-scale war where artillery plays a critical role. It also raises questions about whether the U.S. has been able to adequately supply Ukraine with needed ammunition.

The details

The new Mesquite plant was commissioned by the Army to boost 155mm shell production, but it has faced difficulties implementing highly automated production lines and lacks qualified personnel to maintain the robotic systems. Additionally, the U.S. is dealing with shortages of explosives and gunpowder, as domestic production of these materials has not been modernized for decades and relies on imports.

  • This week, Brent Ingraham, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement, Logistics and Technology, expressed concerns about the plant's operations.
  • The Army had aimed to reach a target of 100,000 rounds per month from the Mesquite plant.

The players

Brent Ingraham

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement, Logistics and Technology.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS)

The company operating the Mesquite, Texas plant that is struggling to meet production targets.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The military leadership is considering terminating the contract with GD-OTS if production does not improve, but has agreed to renegotiate the terms for now.

The takeaway

This crisis in artillery shell production highlights the challenges the U.S. faces in quickly ramping up critical manufacturing capabilities, which raises concerns about the military's readiness for a protracted conflict. It also underscores the complexities of maintaining a robust domestic supply chain for defense-critical materials.