$500M Artillery Plant Fails to Produce After Two Years

WHO:

NY Post - The U.S. government and the Pentagon are involved in the funding and oversight of the artillery plant.

CBS News - General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems operates the Mesquite facility.

WHAT:

NY Post - The U.S. spent $469 million on an artillery plant that has not produced any 155mm rounds.

CBS News - A Pentagon watchdog report states that the Mesquite plant has not produced any parts for 155mm artillery rounds in two years.

CBS News - The Army's expenditure of $469 million could have been used for other Army or Department of Defense priorities.

CBS News - The Army depleted its inventory of 155mm artillery by 3.6 million rounds over the past four years.

CBS News - More than 3 million rounds were provided to Ukraine through weapons packages.

CBS News - The Army's production goal for 155mm artillery was set to increase from 14,000 rounds per month to 100,000 by October 2025.

CBS News - As of March 2026, the Army was producing about 36,000 rounds per month.

CBS News - The Mesquite facility was expected to produce 30,000 projectile metal parts each month.

WHERE:

CBS News - The artillery plant is located in Mesquite, Texas.

WHEN:

CBS News - The Mesquite plant opened in May 2024.

CBS News - The Army contracting office requested the plant to stop work in August 2025.

CBS News - The report states that by September 2026, the Pentagon will reach only 71,000 rounds per month.

WHY:

CBS News - The failure to produce rounds is attributed to the Army accepting risks with the contractor's untested equipment procurement plan.

CBS News - The demand for artillery has diminished due to changes in warfare tactics in Ukraine.

HOW:

CBS News - The Army and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems have reached an agreement for additional investment to complete the project.

(UPDATED July 15, 2026 01:24 UTC)

The U.S. government and the Pentagon are overseeing a $469 million artillery plant in Mesquite, Texas, operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, which has not produced any 155mm rounds in two years. A Pentagon watchdog report highlights that the Army's production goal for 155mm artillery is set to increase significantly, yet the facility was expected to produce only 30,000 projectile metal parts each month and the Army has depleted its inventory by 3.6 million rounds over the past four years. As a result of the ongoing issues, the Army and General Dynamics have reached an agreement for additional investment to complete the project, with expectations that by September 2026, the Pentagon will only reach a production rate of 71,000 rounds per month.