Two very recent contract award announcements concern the supply of ammunition for 155 mm guns. The United States has already delivered more than 2 million such projectiles since the start of the war in Ukraine (US Army photo).
The first notice was issued on September 27:
American Ordnance LLC, Middletown, Iowa (W15QKN-23-D-0056); and General Dynamics OTS Inc., Niceville, Florida (W15QKN-23-D-0057), will compete for each order of the $974,359,955 firm-fixed-price contract for the loading, assembly and packaging requirements of the 155mm M1128. Offers were requested online and two were received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 26, 2028. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
Here is the second, dated the 28th:
Day & Zimmermann Lone Star LLC, has been awarded a $966,745,000 firm-fixed-price contract for the manufacturing, assembly, inspection, packaging and delivery of 155mm Modular Artillery Loading System M231/M232 Series Combustible Cartridge Casings. . Bids were solicited online and one was received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 27, 2028. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-23-D -0064).
In 2023, since January, nine opinions have focused on the supply of this type of ammunition. By the way, two other opinions referred to 120 ammunition (530 million dollars) and one to 35 mm for Cheetah donated by Germany to Ukraine (for 118 million dollars).
As for 155 mm, the accumulated value of the markets exceeds 4,858 million dollars. Of course, not all of these munitions will go to Ukraine, but the proportion of them that will be fired at Russian forces will be large.
Currently, the United States produces 28,000 155mm shells per month (the Ukrainians produce up to 240,000 each month!). The United States’ goal is to increase to 57,000 by spring 2024. Starting in 2025, they hope to release 100,000 per month, according to Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s acquisition chief.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon supplies, for example, from Bulgaria, where at least two producers of 155 mm projectiles operate.
