Nammo boosts artillery shell production 24/7 in Swedish factory for Ukraine's

Ukraine consumes an enormous amount of artillery shells, a demand that current supplies fall short of meeting. Notably, several arms manufacturing companies are exerting efforts to increase their production outputs to varying degrees of success.

Among the prominent players in the European defense market is the Nammo group, which has factories in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and other countries. The workforce at their Karlskoga location in Sweden has commenced 24/7 shifts with the goal of doubling their production volume by the end of 2024, compared to 2022.

The Karlskoga plants, among other items, produce 40 mm caliber ammunition used in the CV90 infantry fighting vehicles provided to Ukraine, as well as 40 mm caliber grenades for revolver grenade launchers such as RGP-40 and machine-type models like the Mk-19.

For 155 mm caliber artillery ammunition, Nammo essentially fabricates two types. The first one includes traditional non-guided shells with a rear cut, housing nearly 20 lbs of TNT encased in cast steel that generates damaging shrapnel upon explosion, affecting targets several dozens of yards away.

These shells enable targeting at a distance of approximately 15 miles for systems with a cannon length of 39 calibers, such as FH-70 howitzers or AS90 gun howitzers, or 19 miles for solutions with a cannon length of 52 calibers, like Krab, K9 Thunder, or PzH 2000.

The second type comprises shells fitted with a gas generator located at the base of the projectile. This produces exhaust gases that reduce base drag, resulting in a 30 percent increase in range. For shorter cannons, this range stands at nearly 19 miles, and for longer cannons, it extends to 25 miles. It is crucial to note that the explosive charge remains the same as in regular shells. In Karlskoga, Nammo produces a variant with roughly 20 lbs of TNT and a more potent version filled with 22 pounds of explosive material identified as MCX-6100.