US Army ramps up shell production with new Arkansas plant
The US Army, in partnership with General Dynamics, has opened a new factory in Camden, Arkansas, significantly boosting the production of 155 mm artillery ammunition.
According to the portal Defense News, the launch of the plant in Camden is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the American industrial base for artillery ammunition production. The new facility will handle the filling of cast shell casings with TNT, final processing, and packaging in a palletized system.
Opened on April 21, 2025, the facility houses two production lines capable of producing around 50,000 shells monthly, which represents a substantial production increase.
Here's what will be produced in Camden — Shells on a mass scale
The largest volume will likely consist of simple M107 shells or their successors, M795. These shells have a cast steel body and are filled with either 15 lbs or 24 lbs of TNT or a mixture with hexogen known as Composition B. They are fitted with simple impact fuses, which detonate upon hitting the target, or more advanced ones that allow for detonation at a specific height, such as 33 feet. These fuses include options like the French Ralec.
The maximum range for M107 and M795 shells from howitzers with a barrel length of 39 calibers, like the M777, is 14 miles. For European systems with a gun length of 52 calibers, such as the Caesar, PzH 2000, or AHS Krab, the range reaches up to 19 miles.
The slightly more expensive M795E1 shells will also be popular. They are equipped with a base burner located at the bottom, which generates gases that reduce the base drag of the shell, thereby increasing its range by 30 percent. For long-barreled artillery systems, this allows targets to be engaged at distances of up to 25 miles.
Shells for special tasks
The US Army also requires more specialized shells, which will have lower production volumes due to their higher cost. This category includes shells like the M549A1, which is equipped with a rocket booster that provides additional propulsion after the shell leaves the barrel.
This enables engagement of targets at ranges of approximately 31-37 miles for systems like the AHS Krab, although the need to accommodate a rocket engine and fuel reduces the TNT weight to 15 lbs.
The final category consists of the guided M982 Excalibur shells, equipped with GPS guidance for striking valuable targets with an accuracy of a few yards at distances over 31 miles. However, these are not an ideal solution due to their high cost—up to $100,000 each—and vulnerability to GPS jamming by the Russians, which has rendered them ineffective until the implementation of jamming-resistant receivers.
