Russia's war on Ukraine: US plans to increase artillery ammo output, CNN visits Scranton plant

This video is a 3-minute story by Oren Liebermann, a correspondent with CNN, about the US plans to increase the output of 155mm artillery shells for the M777 guns because the supply to the Ukrainian army is insufficient. News segment hosted by John Vause and broadcast on 17 February 2023.

The US Army has just announced that $1.5 billion will now be earmarked for these purposes.

Here we are given a tour of the Scranton (PA) Army Ammunition Plant. We see that the plant is operated by General Dynamics, Ordnance and Tactical Systems. We see men and machines and robots heat to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit solid 1 ton steel cylinders and press and forge them into ogive forms, so that they can (in a separate unseen plant) be filled with explosive and capped with a fuse.

We are informed that Ukraine grinds through in half a week the entire month's output from Scranton. Jens Stoltenberg has a cameo for emphasis. The Pentagon has plans for new ammo plants in Texas and Canada.

Doug Bush is the US Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, and he tells us that this is the greatest logjam dearth screaming need since probably the Korean War. His goal is to produce in two years' span, five times the quantity produced now. As well, he plans to increase the quantity of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), 30% more HIMARS GLMRS, and extra Stinger missiles.

Seth Jones from CSIS says that our defense industrial base is still largely geared to a peacetime environment.