A U.S. artillery plant, constructed with nearly $500 million in federal funding, has failed to produce a single 155mm artillery round in the two years since its inception, according to a report from the Pentagon's inspector general. The facility, located in Mesquite, Texas, and operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS), was intended to replenish America's dwindling ammunition stockpiles, significantly depleted by aid to Ukraine.
The plant, which began operations in May 2024, was contracted to produce critical metal projectile parts for 155mm artillery shells. However, the Defense Department watchdog found that the facility has not manufactured any of the components outlined in its contract. This lack of production poses a significant risk to the U.S. Army's goal of reaching a monthly production capacity of 100,000 155mm rounds by October 2025.
According to the report, the U.S. has expended approximately 3.6 million 155mm rounds over the past four years, with the majority supplied to Ukraine for its defense against Russia's invasion. This depletion necessitated increased domestic production, leading to investments in facilities like the one in Mesquite.
Between May 2024 and March 2026, the Mesquite plant was expected to produce 30,000 projectile metal parts per month. The inspector general's report indicates that no parts have been manufactured during this period. General Dynamics has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The failure of the Mesquite plant to contribute to production targets means that with only three facilities currently producing the required metal projectile parts, the Department of the Army will only reach approximately 71,000 rounds per month, falling short of the 100,000-round goal by 29 percent.
This development occurs amidst growing concerns about the adequacy of U.S. weapons stockpiles, particularly as the nation contends with ongoing international conflicts. The report highlights that three major global conflicts—the war in Ukraine, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, and the U.S. military's involvement in the Middle East—all rely on U.S.-manufactured munitions. A separate report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in April indicated that the U.S. may have expended over half of its pre-war inventory in the Middle East, depleting critical assets like Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot and THAAD interceptors. The CSIS report warned that rebuilding these stockpiles could take between one and four years, a timeline that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump have reportedly urged defense contractors to accelerate.