On August 20, 2025, the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) confirmed that its U.S. subsidiary, MSM North America, has secured a $632 million contract from the U.S. Army to build a large-scale ammunition plant in Iowa. Once operational, the facility will produce up to 432,000 155 mm artillery shells per year, reflecting NATO’s urgent need to replenish stocks strained by the war in Ukraine and other global conflicts.
The “Future Artillery Complex” (FAC), to be located at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, is set to become one of the world’s most advanced explosive loading centers. Designed around robotics, automation, and lean manufacturing, the site will be capable of producing 36,000 shells per month. Uniquely, the project represents a European defense company taking the lead on a strategic U.S. Army initiative.
The 155 mm shell remains the cornerstone of NATO artillery doctrine. It is the standard caliber for systems such as America’s M777 howitzer and M109 Paladin, Germany’s PzH 2000, South Korea’s K9 Thunder, and France’s Caesar. The war in Ukraine has reinforced its relevance: since 2022, the United States has supplied Kyiv with over 3 million rounds, depleting its own reserves and exposing critical production gaps.
Despite advancements in drones and precision-strike weapons, artillery continues to dominate the modern battlefield. Analysts note that artillery fire accounts for up to 80% of casualties in high-intensity conflicts, echoing the mass firepower demands of earlier wars of attrition. The Iowa plant is therefore not just an industrial expansion but a recognition that military endurance depends on sustained shell production.
Scheduled to reach full capacity by September 2029, the facility will strengthen both U.S. and allied security. In addition to supplying the U.S. Army, it will also support Foreign Military Sales and NATO partners. The Pentagon’s investment reflects a broader strategy to diversify and expand U.S. ammunition production, ensuring that artillery—long hailed as the “king of battle”—retains its decisive role in 21st-century warfare.
