Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Army Greenlights Plans For Massive Ammo Factory In The Heartland Of America
The Daily Caller ^ | August 20, 1015 | Wallace White

Posted on 08/20/2025 4:36:06 PM PDT by Towed_Jumper

The Army is launching a massive new artillery ammo factory in the heart of the Midwest, Axios reported on Wednesday.

The Future Artillery Complex is set to go up at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, aiming to produce approximately 36,000 shells a month, according to Axios. MSM Group North America, a U.S.-based defense manufacturer under the Czechoslovak Group, will spearhead the facility’s construction with a $635 million contract.

“Our principle objective is to expand the depth of the industrial base, particularly ammunition,” MSM Group CEO Jason Gaines told Axios. “The companies we have partnered with are all extremely capable in their respective fields.”

The project will also include help from construction company Wieland, robotics and fabrication company IPS Custom Automation, and engineering firm DetTX, according to Axios. Gaines is a long-time industry veteran, currently chairing the NDIA Industrial Committee of Ammunition Producers and previously serving at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

The facility aims to heavily utilize robotics and automation to produce shells, according to Axios. It is unknown how many employees the facility plans to employ.

“We’re looking to drastically improve — or reduce — the material handling that the operators are doing today, as well as the pouring parameters,” Gaines told Axios.

The Army wants to increase production of 155mm artillery shells to 100,000 units a month, a munition frequently supplied to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022. The Army has sent well over 3 million of the shells to Kiev since the invasion began.

Some defense experts have warned that continuing to send munitions to Ukraine could drain U.S. stockpiles to unsafe levels, with similar concerns prompting a brief pause on missile shipments to Ukraine in July.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: ammo; army; artillery; banglist; czechia; slovakia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
If they haven't already, we should expect to see China buying up farmland near this facility in Iowa.
1 posted on 08/20/2025 4:36:06 PM PDT by Towed_Jumper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper
Recall when the scuzzy Dems made a campaign visit with Zelensky to the Army ammo plant a year ago? Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits Pennsylvania ammunition plant to thank workers and ask for more

Maybe President Trump will invited the Dems to this new factory groundbreaking!

2 posted on 08/20/2025 4:45:19 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

Too 3.5 years of seeing Ukraine get their clocks cleaned for the Neocons to realize their one remaining WW2 artillery shell factory (in Pennsylvania) wasn’t enough for their quest to take over the world.

...but, for the Neocons, that’s actually an improvement.


3 posted on 08/20/2025 4:46:51 PM PDT by BobL (If you're over 50 and still eat carbs, expect to become diabetic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

i’ll never get why they allow this to be broadcasted. once upon a time it was considered Top Secret... morons...


4 posted on 08/20/2025 4:48:10 PM PDT by sit-rep (START DEMANDING INDICTMENTS NOW!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

Bring back the Black Hills munitions depot.
Igloo


5 posted on 08/20/2025 4:55:49 PM PDT by South Dakota (Vance / Trump...2028 )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

IAAAP, as it is called, already produces huge amounts of various military munitions on 19,000 acres. Southeast Iowa near Burlington.


6 posted on 08/20/2025 5:04:33 PM PDT by jjotto ("...saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

I can’t figger out what the Ukes shoot at? Mostly dirt, it seems. That first shipment of 36,000 rounds of 155 was more ammo than Patton used to defeat the Krautz in North Africa.

100,000 rounds should have destroyed the Russian army and every thing else between the Ukes and Moscow.


7 posted on 08/20/2025 5:05:54 PM PDT by OldWarBaby
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: OldWarBaby

“”””100,000 rounds should have destroyed the Russian army and every thing else between the Ukes and Moscow.””””

At the beginning of the invasion Russia was firing that number in about a day and a half, 60,000 a day.


8 posted on 08/20/2025 5:12:25 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Towed_Jumper

That’s not massive.


9 posted on 08/20/2025 5:15:29 PM PDT by Thud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ansel12; OldWarBaby; Redleg Duke

One of the reasons the US Army did so well in WWII was because our artillery coordination was so superior. The Russians were more line them up wheel to wheel and fire a huge area barrage. Our ToT directed barrages were much more effective. We could get up to corp level arty on a single target, all arriving at the same time, from a Bn or even Company level FO.

And while I’m glad to see more attention paid to this aspect of the industrial base, I’d be happier to see drone production addressed similarly. Really, both.


10 posted on 08/20/2025 5:28:16 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

We are moving quickly on drones, TNT, missiles, artillery, including the guns themselves, 155 shells in mass, and smart 155 shells as well, Russia not only got American defense restarted but also in Europe and the Pacific.

We and the rest of our friends and allies are reawakened and the dollars are flowing into new factories and weapons, and drones are a big focus.


11 posted on 08/20/2025 5:34:17 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

Examples, and this isn’t just in America, but among our allies in Europe and the Pacific who are doing the same thing.

“New Huntsville, Alabama factory will produce 60,000 drones a year in response to threat from China”

“Drone Maker Lands $900 Million Project in Central Ohio”

“Israeli drone manufacturer opens US hub in Tampa”

“How Central New York Became a Drone Manufacturing Hub”


12 posted on 08/20/2025 5:43:08 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

Glad to see us not fighting the last war!


13 posted on 08/20/2025 5:46:06 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

American and NATO defense is really benefitting from this Russian debacle.


14 posted on 08/20/2025 5:49:08 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: South Dakota

Roger that!
Also bring back Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (JAAP).


15 posted on 08/20/2025 6:06:50 PM PDT by No Party Affiliation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: OldWarBaby

You have an interesting point. 36,000 rounds is an awful lot.

But here’s the whopper: The Germans fired one million shells in a single day at the Battle of Verdun in 1916. PTSD in that era was called “shell shocked”, I can see why. I knew a WW1 vet that slept with his window open. He would beller and scream all night long in his sleep. If any Ukes happen to survive this war, some of them might do this too.

So 36,000 really isn’t a whole lot by all out war standards.


16 posted on 08/20/2025 7:24:30 PM PDT by redfreedom (Happiness is shopping at Walmart and not hearing Spanish once!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: redfreedom

600,000 were used in support of the NZ assault on Cassino and it failed.


17 posted on 08/20/2025 8:27:33 PM PDT by Axenolith (Don’t bother holding my beer, I’ll finish it first…)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

American and NATO defense is really benefitting from this Russian debacle.


Finland 1940 was a debacle, as well. Hitler was so confident, he didn’t even provide winter clothing for the Wehrmacht.


18 posted on 08/20/2025 8:31:52 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

LOL, whatever that is supposed to mean, Hitler should have done what America and the rest of NATO is doing, unleashing their military budgets and defense industries to prepare for a conflict with Russia, and learning everything they can from watching Russia, North Korea, and Ukraine, on the battlefield.


19 posted on 08/20/2025 8:46:09 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ansel12

The point is not to get lulled in and thinking Russia is weak, just because they haven’t taken Kiev, yet.

The Poles certainly aren’t, they are quickly becoming the most powerful military in Europe.


20 posted on 08/20/2025 8:54:06 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson