RT.com
26 Jan 2023, 00:17 GMT+10
The Pentagon plans to boost manufacturing of 155mm artillery shells sixfold within the next two years
The US Department of Defense is reportedly planning to undergo its most "aggressive modernization effort" in nearly 40 years, according to an army report seen by the New York Times as the Pentagon aims to boost weapons production for Ukraine.
The effort will apparently include the expansion of factories and the engagement of new producers in order to achieve a 500% boost in artillery shell production within two years, the outlet claims. It's noted that such a move would push conventional ammunition production to levels not seen since the Korean War in the early 1950s.
Before Russia launched its ongoing military operation in Ukraine in late February last year, the US Army was producing some 14,400 artillery shells a month, according to the NYT. However, with Kiev demanding more weapons and munitions from Washington and its allies, the Pentagon tripled production goals last September and then doubled them in January, and is now producing as many as 90,000 shells per month.
The outlet goes on to state that the Department of Defense intends to spend roughly $1 billion a year for the next 15 years to modernize government-owned ordnance production facilities, increasing automation and the capacity to produce munitions more quickly.
"In previous conflicts, we had stockpiles that were sufficient for the conflict," the army's top acquisition official, Douglas R. Bushin, told the NYT. "In this case, we're seeking to increase production to both maintain our stockpile for some other contingency but also supply an ally."
Previously, CNN also reported that the Biden administration was "finalizing" plans to send M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev and intends to provide "a significant number" of the heavily armored machines. Reuters also claimed that the US may be preparing to send "dozens" of Abrams tanks to Kiev, but noted the process could take months, if not years.
Russia, meanwhile, has continued to insist that the deliveries of Western weapons to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict and will ultimately fail to have a significant effect on its outcome.
As for the delivery of US tanks, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has stated that such a move would constitute a "blatant provocation" against Moscow and warned that the tanks, as well as any other NATO military equipment sent to Ukraine, "without any doubt will be destroyed."
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Houston Mirror news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Houston Mirror.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - Technology stocks had a hay day Thursday with Facebook parent Meta rocketing up nearly 30 ...
FRANKFURT, Germany: Data released this week showed that the German economy unexpectedly shrank in the fourth quarter of 2022, indicating ...
TOKYO, Japan: In a statement posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, Beijing announced that it will ...
NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. dollar crumbled on Thursday after first posting gains. The late afternoon sell off ...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street dove into the red Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve Open Market Committee ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In the latest indication that its interest rate hikes are slowing the US economy, the Federal Reserve's main ...
DALLAS, Texas: Oil and gas pipeline operators are preparing to stockpile equipment following severe weather forecasts for the next few ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: As US lawmakers investigate the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok, its Chief Executive, Shou Zi Chew, has confirmed that ...
TEHRAN, Iran: A gunman this week stormed the Azerbaijan Embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran, and killed its security chief ...
WASHINGTON, DC - FBI agents on Wednesday searched for classified documents at U.S. President Joe Biden's vacation retreat in the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The White House said this week that Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk met with John Podesta, a Democratic ...
MANILA, Philippines: In an effort to attract more tourists, President Ferdinand Marcos has approved a value-added tax refund program for ...