A ProPublica investigation reveals that General Dynamics has delivered no operational 155mm artillery rounds from a new plant built with public money, despite mounting pressure to replenish US stockpiles.
No accountability after a half-billion-dollar contract
The American defence contractor General Dynamics has failed to produce a single usable 155mm artillery shell at a new factory built specifically to boost supplies for Ukraine, according to an investigation published on Thursday by ProPublica.
The plant, which opened in 2024, was intended to address a critical shortage of artillery ammunition faced by Ukrainian forces. Yet despite receiving $533m in public funding, the company “has not produced a single usable shell body at its new facility and has faced no public accountability,” the report said.
Congress paved the way for a no-bid deal
ProPublica reported that in 2022, as ammunition stocks dwindled, the US Congress relaxed the rules governing state defence contracts. That allowed the US Army to award General Dynamics a contract to manufacture 155mm munitions without a standard competitive tender process.
The company was selected largely because of its unique experience in producing artillery systems, the investigation noted. However, the project quickly ran into difficulty.
Turkish partner and mismatched machinery
To carry out the work, a subsidiary of General Dynamics brought in the Turkish firm Repkon. But according to ProPublica, some of the equipment installed at the plant had previously been used to manufacture different types of shells and was not designed to handle the grade of steel required for the new order.
Former employees told the publication that after the factory opened in spring 2024, production was plagued by repeated breakdowns. Among the problems cited were hydraulic robots catching fire after oil came into contact with superheated metal, failures in robotic manipulators, and frequent equipment repairs, including work on the presses.
Javelin stocks will take years to rebuild
Separately, US budget documents indicate that the Pentagon will not be able to fully replenish its stocks of Javelin anti-tank missiles, which have been depleted by shipments to Ukraine, until at least 2030.
According to US Army data dated August 11, the military has ordered a total of 9,374 Javelin missiles using supplemental funding linked to the war in Ukraine. Deliveries are spread over several years, underscoring the long-term strain the conflict has placed on US arsenals.
