Texas factory cost $469M using old equipment, makes zero artillery shells

3 hours ago

The U.S. Army spent $469 million on a Mesquite, Texas ammunition factory to produce 155 mm artillery shells, but it has not delivered any rounds in two years.
The factory, contracted to General Dynamics, was supposed to produce 30,000 shells monthly by October 2025 but remains inactive, with no production expected before September.
It was intended to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine and meet training needs, using expedited contracts in 2022-2023 for M795 High Explosive shell parts.
The Army allowed the use of old M107 shell production equipment, which proved unsuccessful, leading to a work stoppage in August 2025 that lasted through at least April 2026.
As of March 2026, overall 155 mm shell production was at 36,000 rounds monthly, far below the goal of 100,000, with the Mesquite plant being a bottleneck.
An Army official expressed dissatisfaction with the plant's performance, citing missed deadlines and poor results as highlighted in a Pentagon watchdog report.

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