MARION, Ill. — The U.S. Army’s Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition joined General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems to celebrate the opening of a new munitions production facility in Marion, Illinois, on October 22. The new facility will produce the M119A2 propelling charge and is a key piece of the Army’s strategy to ramp up 155mm production to 100,000 shots per month.
“This facility is critical to the Army’s ability to provide munitions at the scale and speed required by our warfighters,” said Col. Leon Rogers, Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems, whose project office spearheaded the effort.
“The M119A2 propelling charges we will produce here have been dormant for over 20 years," he added. "Reviving and modernizing this production is essential to meeting the Army’s current and future needs.”
The new facility will have the capacity to produce up to 33,000 M119A2 propelling charges per month. These charges are used in 155mm Howitzer platforms, which are vital to the joint warfighter’s capability to shape the battlefield.
“This facility doesn’t just increase our capacity; it gives us the flexibility to adapt to evolving operational needs,” Rogers said. “Our warfighters rely on us to deliver, and we’re committed to making sure they have what they need, when they need it.”
The ceremony was attended by Army leadership, industry partners, and local officials, which reflected the close collaboration required to bring the project to completion in record time.
According to Rogers, work on the facility began when the contract was awarded to General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in September 2023 and within only 11 months, completed production of the first 5,000 propelling charges.
“We’re moving at the speed of war,” Rogers said. “This facility is a prime example of how the Army, working closely with industry and local government, can mobilize quickly to meet urgent defense needs.”
The Marion site is part of a larger effort to expand the Army’s 155mm artillery production capacity to 100,000 shots per month by fiscal year 2026.
A shot is defined as a complete 155mm round to include fuze, primer, explosively loaded projectile, and a propelling charge. Additional investments include production facilities in Canada, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, and Texas.
Rogers acknowledged the challenges involved in ramping up production, particularly in sourcing key materials, but praised the dedication of the Army and its partners in overcoming these obstacles.
“Challenges like supply chain constraints are always part of the equation, but through innovation and collaboration, we’ve found ways to overcome them,” Rogers said. “This facility stands as proof of our determination to deliver what our soldiers need, no matter the obstacles.”
According to Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition, the U.S. Army invested $2.9 billion in fiscal year 2023 to expand its munitions production capabilities, with an additional $2 billion allocated in fiscal year 2024.
“These investments are part of our commitment to ensure that our joint warfighters and international partners are equipped with safe, reliable, and lethal munitions capabilities," Reim said. "These investments also serve as a credible deterrent to would be adversaries and if called upon, give us the ability fight and win our nation’s wars.”
“The speed and scale of our response to current global conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific, demand that we increase production capacity of critical munitions like 155mm artillery. This facility is a crucial step in meeting that challenge.”
Reim highlighted the broader significance of the facility, noting that the ability to rapidly scale up munitions production is essential not only for immediate operational needs, but also for maintaining long-term readiness.
“Strengthening our industrial base is key to maintaining overmatch. As threats evolve, we need to be agile and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. This new facility, along with other defense industrial base investments we are making across the U.S. is further proof of how we ensure that future readiness,” Reim concluded.
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