A new plant built by American company General Dynamics, created to increase the production of 155-mm artillery shells for Ukraine, has failed to produce a single usable shell since its opening in spring 2024.
An investigation reveals that despite receiving $533 million from the United States, the facility has not manufactured any functional ammunition and has incurred no public liability.
In 2022, amid critical shortages of artillery shells for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), U.S. Congress streamlined government contracting procedures. This allowed Ukraine to sign a deal with General Dynamics for 155-mm ammunition production without competitive bidding. The company was selected due to its experience in artillery systems.
According to the investigation, General Dynamics’ division partnered with Turkish firm Repkon to implement the project. However, some equipment used in the facility had previously been designed for other types of projectiles and was incompatible with the steel grade required by Ukraine’s needs.
Former employees report that since the plant began operations in spring 2024, production has repeatedly encountered malfunctions, including hydraulic robot fires caused by oil on hot metal, manipulator failures, and frequent repairs to presses.
