Army Plans Annual Output of 30,000 Cluster Shells

The U.S. Army is seeking to significantly bolster its munitions production capabilities by manufacturing up to 30,000 155mm cluster shells annually, as part of a broader strategy to replenish depleted stockpiles and prepare for potential future conflicts. This initiative, first reported in a Military Times article titled “US Army wants to manufacture 30,000 155mm cluster shells per year,” underscores the military’s growing focus on large-scale, high-intensity warfare readiness.

The 155mm shells in question are designed to carry submunitions, commonly known as cluster munitions, which disperse smaller explosive projectiles over a wide area. These types of shells are often used to target enemy troops, vehicles, and artillery positions over an expansive battlefield. Though controversial due to the risk of unexploded ordnance harming civilians long after conflicts end, such weapons remain a key component of U.S. and allied artillery capabilities.

Army officials have cited operational lessons from recent conflicts, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where massed artillery barrages have played a central role. The war has highlighted the enduring significance of conventional firepower and the logistical demands of sustaining such campaigns. With U.S. stockpiles drawn down in part by ongoing support for Ukraine, the Pentagon is now accelerating efforts to rebuild and modernize its ammunition production infrastructure.

According to the Military Times report, the Army’s munitions strategy includes both expanding capacity and modernizing the production lines at facilities such as the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant and others within the Joint Munitions Command network. By scaling up to 30,000 shells annually, the Army aims to ensure it can meet future wartime needs while maintaining readiness in the face of evolving global threats.

The move also reflects a shifting balance in U.S. defense priorities. Following two decades of counterinsurgency operations, the Pentagon is pivoting toward preparing for potential large-scale wars against technologically advanced adversaries. Long-range fires, including artillery equipped with advanced munitions, are increasingly viewed as central to deterring aggression and prevailing in conflict.

Nevertheless, the renewed focus on cluster munitions will likely draw scrutiny both domestically and abroad. More than 100 countries have signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the use, transfer, and stockpiling of such weapons. The United States, Russia, and China are not signatories to the treaty, but the deployment and potential export of cluster munitions remain highly sensitive issues, particularly amid concerns over civilian harm and battlefield accountability.

Army leaders have said that the new shells will incorporate safety improvements designed to reduce the percentage of submunitions that fail to detonate on impact—an effort aimed at mitigating humanitarian concerns. Advances in design and testing could address long-standing criticisms, though critics argue that cluster weapons inherently pose unacceptable risks to non-combatants.

As geopolitical tensions continue to simmer and defense planners anticipate the demands of future warfare, the U.S. military’s renewed investment in ammunition production—including controversial but potent systems like the 155mm cluster shell—signals a pronounced shift toward industrial-scale preparedness. Whether this resurgence will improve deterrence without reigniting debates over the ethics and legality of certain weapons remains a question policymakers and military leaders will need to confront in the years ahead.