The United States military, once the unchallenged powerhouse of the free world, was left reeling after years of neglect under the Biden administration. With depleted stockpiles, strained supply chains, and a focus on foreign conflicts over domestic strength, America’s readiness suffered. Now, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the nation is witnessing a resurgence in defense manufacturing, with a new artillery ammunition factory set to rise in the heart of the Midwest, signaling a commitment to restoring military dominance.
The Future Artillery Complex at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is a cornerstone of Trump’s plan to rebuild America’s arsenal. Axios reports this state-of-the-art facility will produce approximately 36,000 155mm artillery shells per month, a critical step toward ensuring the U.S. military is prepared for any challenge. This initiative comes as a direct response to the dangerously low stockpiles left by Biden’s reckless shipments to Ukraine, which experts warn have compromised national security.
MSM Group North America, a U.S.-based defense manufacturer under the Czechoslovak Group, is leading the charge with a $635 million contract to construct the facility. “Our principle objective is to expand the depth of the industrial base, particularly ammunition,” MSM Group CEO Jason Gaines told Axios. With decades of experience, including his prior role at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Gaines is poised to deliver a facility that prioritizes efficiency and innovation.
Unlike the Biden era, which saw America’s industrial base hollowed out, Trump’s administration is doubling down on domestic manufacturing. The Future Artillery Complex will leverage partnerships with industry leaders like Wieland for construction, IPS Custom Automation for robotics, and DetTX for engineering. This collaborative approach ensures the facility will be a beacon of American ingenuity, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers and creating high-quality jobs for hardworking Americans.
The new factory will heavily utilize robotics and automation, a sharp contrast to the outdated methods that persisted under Biden. “We’re looking to drastically improve — or reduce — the material handling that the operators are doing today, as well as the pouring parameters,” Gaines told Axios. This focus on cutting-edge technology will streamline production, ensuring the U.S. can meet its goal of producing 100,000 155mm shells per month—a target critical to replenishing stocks drained by Biden’s foreign policy missteps.
Under Biden, the U.S. sent over 3 million 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, often at the expense of America’s own readiness. Defense experts have sounded the alarm, warning that such massive transfers risk leaving U.S. forces vulnerable. A brief pause in missile shipments to Ukraine in July 2025 highlighted these concerns, as the Pentagon grappled with the reality of depleted inventories. Trump’s administration is reversing this dangerous trend, prioritizing America’s security first.
The Trump administration has already taken steps to diversify the supply chain for 155mm shells, moving away from the single-source bottleneck that plagued production under Biden. New plants in Mesquite, Texas, and Camden, Arkansas, along with a facility in Ontario, Canada, operated by IMT Defense, are expanding capacity. By early 2026, the U.S. will have four shell production sites, a stark improvement over the single Scranton, Pennsylvania, plant that struggled to keep up during Biden’s tenure.
President Trump's advocacy for domestic energy production, nuclear modernization, and increased US military strength projects American power and weakens Russian global influence, @wrmead argues on @FoxBusiness. pic.twitter.com/JdJidQJFqb
— Hudson Institute (@HudsonInstitute) August 20, 2025
The Camden, Arkansas, facility, recently opened by General Dynamics, features two Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) lines capable of producing 50,000 shells per month when fully operational. Another LAP plant in Parsons, Kansas, is set to come online, further boosting output. This rapid expansion reflects Trump’s commitment to ensuring the U.S. military is never again caught unprepared, unlike the Biden years when production lagged at a mere 14,000 shells per month before the Ukraine conflict.
Trump’s focus on rebuilding the defense industrial base goes beyond artillery shells. The administration is investing billions to modernize government-owned, contractor-operated plants, a stark contrast to Biden’s neglect of critical infrastructure. For example, a $93 million upgrade at Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia will reestablish domestic production of M6 propellant, previously sourced from allies like Poland. This move reduces reliance on foreign nations, a vulnerability exposed under Biden’s watch.
The Biden administration’s obsession with funneling weapons to Ukraine left U.S. stockpiles dangerously low. Reports indicate that by 2023, Ukraine was firing 6,000 to 8,000 shells daily, outpacing U.S. production capacity at the time. This forced the Pentagon to scramble, diverting resources from domestic needs and even tapping into reserves meant for other allies, like Israel. Trump’s leadership is correcting this imbalance, ensuring America’s military is equipped for any contingency, from deterring China to securing the homeland.
Critics of Biden’s policies, including some Republican lawmakers, have long warned that prioritizing foreign conflicts over domestic preparedness is a recipe for disaster. In 2023, Rep. Matt Gaetz introduced a bill to end U.S. support for Ukraine, citing concerns over dwindling stockpiles. While Biden’s team dismissed these warnings, Trump has listened, halting new aid packages to Ukraine and focusing on rebuilding America’s strength. This America First approach resonates with voters tired of seeing their nation’s resources squandered abroad.
The Trump administration’s efforts are already yielding results. By August, production of 155mm shells had increased to 40,000 per month, up from 14,000 before the Ukraine conflict. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth noted plans to reach 55,000 shells per month by year’s end, with a goal of 100,000 by late 2025. These gains, driven by Trump’s investments, contrast sharply with Biden’s failure to address the munitions crisis, even as Ukraine consumed shells at an unsustainable rate.
By revitalizing the defense industrial base, Trump is not only preparing for potential conflicts but also boosting the economy. The Iowa facility, along with others, will create jobs and stimulate local communities, countering the economic decline seen in places like Scranton, Pennsylvania, under Biden’s watch. This is a win for American workers and the military alike.
Defense experts like Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies have emphasized the urgency of rebuilding stockpiles. “This could become a crisis. With the front line now mostly stationary, artillery has become the most important combat arm,” Cancian noted in 2023, highlighting the strain caused by Biden’s policies. Trump’s administration is tackling this crisis head-on, ensuring the U.S. can support its allies without compromising its own security.
As the U.S. faces growing threats from adversaries like China and Russia, Trump’s commitment to a rebuilt, battle-ready military ensures that America will never again be caught off guard. The days of Biden’s weakness are over and America is back, and stronger than ever.