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 ...
Maybe President Trump will invited the Dems to this new factory groundbreaking!
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.
i’ll never get why they allow this to be broadcasted. once upon a time it was considered Top Secret... morons...
Bring back the Black Hills munitions depot.
Igloo
IAAAP, as it is called, already produces huge amounts of various military munitions on 19,000 acres. Southeast Iowa near Burlington.
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.
“”””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.
That’s not massive.
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.
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.
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”
Glad to see us not fighting the last war!
American and NATO defense is really benefitting from this Russian debacle.
Roger that!
Also bring back Joliet Army Ammunition Plant (JAAP).
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.
600,000 were used in support of the NZ assault on Cassino and it failed.
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.
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.
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.
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