By Mike Stone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Military wants Congress to approve $3.1 billion to purchase 155 millimeter artillery rounds and develop manufacturing to rapidly substitute shares depleted by shipments to Ukraine and now Israel, an Military official mentioned on Tuesday.
The U.S. and allies have despatched greater than 2 million rounds of 155 ammunition to Ukraine in assist of its effort to repel Russia’s invasion greater than 600 days in the past. The U.S. has additionally despatched the artillery to Israel because it fights Hamas.
Doug Bush, the chief weapons purchaser for the Military, informed reporters that supplemental funding at present being thought of by Congress as a aside of U.S. President Joe Biden’s $106 billion request would go to modernize or construct 155 millimeter artillery manufacturing amenities throughout many states together with Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and California.
“The funding will develop manufacturing traces, strengthen the American economic system and create new jobs,” Bush informed reporters.
Of the $3.1 billion particular to 155 artillery, about half would go to boosting industrial capability with the rest going to purchasing rounds, Bush mentioned.
Different elements of Biden’s $106 billion supplemental request, outdoors the $3.1 billion earmarked for 155 millimeter artillery, would go to funding enlargement of different munitions, Bush mentioned, together with funds to spice up the annual manufacturing fee of Patriot air protection interceptors to 650 from 550.
Demand for 155 mm artillery rounds has soared within the wake of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Allies’ provides for their very own protection have been run down as they’ve rushed shells to Kyiv, which fires 1000’s of rounds per day.
The U.S. plans to extend its month-to-month manufacturing fee for 155 millimeter artillery shells to 100,000 in 2025.
In its most up-to-date earnings report Normal Dynamics mentioned it benefited from Pentagon spending to switch tools despatched to Ukraine, together with 155 millimeter artillery.
(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Enhancing by Matthew Lewis)
