In order to meet the surging demand, a munitions factory in Pennsylvania, United States has successfully increased the production of 155mm howitzer shells by 50% and continues to ramp up its capacity. The factory is providing critical ammunition for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is cutting and forging 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms) of steel bars into 155mm howitzer shells, which are then shipped to Iowa for loading explosives and installing fuses. Many of these artillery shells are being sent to the battlefields in Ukraine.
This long-standing ammunition factory is currently undergoing a $400 million modernization. On Tuesday, government officials disclosed the news of increased production while briefing news agencies about the situation.
The factories in Scranton and two other nearby ammunition plants in Wilkes-Barre have recently boosted their production from 24,000 rounds per month to 36,000 rounds per month. Senior officials of the factory stated that three new production lines are in development that will enable the Scranton plant to produce more crucial ammunition.
During a tour of the sprawling factory near downtown Scranton, Army commander and plant representative Richard Hansen said, “We are currently focused on producing 155mm bullets. This is almost our entire work right now. We are working very hard to ensure we meet the goals set by the Pentagon.”
Hansen added, “We want it to reach where it’s aimed. We want it to fulfill the mission within its capability. This is about lives – the lives of gun crew members, innocent civilians depend on whether this bullet can perform as required on the battlefield.”
Government data shows that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US has delivered over three million 155mm caliber shells to Ukraine. Earlier this month, the White House announced an additional $125 million in weapons aid to assist Ukraine in its military actions against Russia, including 155mm shells.
Originally a locomotive repair shop in the early 20th century, the Scranton plant was later purchased by the Army and transformed into a production base for large-caliber artillery used during the Korean War. Since 2006, the plant has been operated by General Dynamics under a contract with the US government, which owns the facility.
Officials are currently undertaking one of the largest modernization projects in the factory’s history, with about half completed and roughly 20 projects in progress.
The tour on Tuesday included a new production line where a new machine can perform the work of three old machines, helping maximize the space of the 500,000 square foot (approximately 47,000 square meters) facility.
A spokesperson for General Dynamics stated that the factory employs around 300 workers, with some having worked there for decades. They are responsible for operating equipment to cut steel, heat it to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (1093 degrees Celsius), forging, processing, cleaning, and painting finished shells. Each shell undergoes manual inspection at every step to ensure it meets specifications.