Defense watchdog finds new 155mm artillery plant failed to produce parts in 2 years since it was built, hindering production goals

Key Points:

• A Pentagon watchdog report revealed that the Mesquite, Texas ammunition plant, built to produce parts for 155mm artillery rounds, has not produced any parts meeting contract specifications since its opening in May 2024, hindering the Army’s efforts to replenish stocks after supplying Ukraine.
• The Army aimed to increase 155mm artillery production from 14,000 to 100,000 rounds per month by October 2025, investing $469 million in the Mesquite facility, but as of March 2026, production reached only about 36,000 rounds monthly due to the plant's failure to produce expected projectile metal parts.
• The report criticized Army officials for accepting risks with untested equipment procurement plans and noted that only three facilities are producing the required parts, limiting production to 71,000 rounds per month by September 2026, short of the target.
• General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, which operates the plant, stated it has reached an agreement with the Army to invest further and complete the project, while the Army requested the plant to stop work in August 2025 to evaluate and resolve production issues.
• Although demand for artillery has lessened due to Ukraine’s shift towards drone warfare, the report highlights ongoing challenges in the U.S. defense industrial base’s capacity to rapidly produce critical munitions.