MESQUITE, TEXAS — The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released a report on Monday regarding the Mesquite, Texas ammunition plant. The facility has not produced any metal projectile parts meeting contract specifications as of March 2026, despite having opened in May 2024 and receiving $469 million in Army investment.

The Mesquite plant, operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GDOTS), was intended to be a cornerstone of the Army’s effort to ramp up 155mm artillery production. The Army had set a goal in 2024 to increase output from 14,000 rounds per month to 100,000 by October 2025. The Mesquite facility alone was expected to contribute 30,000 projectile metal parts each month toward that target. However, as of March 2026, the plant had failed to deliver a single part that met required specifications.

Army officials had accepted the risk of using untested equipment during the plant’s setup, a decision the inspector general’s report identified as the cause of the production gap. In August 2025, the Army contracting office requested the plant stop work while the government evaluated whether it could meet its obligations and resolve production issues. The stop-work order remained in place for eight months before being lifted on April 3, 2026.

As of March 2026, the Army was producing about 36,000 155mm artillery rounds per month—far short of its original goal. Officials stated that with only three facilities currently capable of producing the required projectile metal parts, the Pentagon is projected to reach a production rate of 71,000 rounds per month by September 2026. That figure represents 71 percent of the 100,000-round monthly production capacity goal established in 2024.

The shortfall comes amid significant drawdowns in the Pentagon’s 155mm artillery inventory. Over the past four years, the U.S. military depleted its stockpile by 3.6 million rounds. Of that total, more than 3 million rounds were provided to Ukraine through weapons packages committed by the Biden administration. An additional 218,000 rounds were sold to other countries, and roughly 112,000 were used for training and testing.

In response to the production challenges at Mesquite, a spokesperson for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems said, "GDOTS and our U.S. Army customers have reached an agreement on a path forward for the Mesquite facility, which includes additional GDOTS investment to complete the project." The inspector general’s report recommended reviewing the contract with the Mesquite plant to examine potential fund recoupment and alternatives for addressing the shell shortfall.

While the demand for traditional artillery has diminished as the war in Ukraine has shifted toward drone warfare, the Pentagon has redirected its focus toward missile procurement. In its current budget request, the Department of Defense sought more than $70 billion to procure missiles and related equipment—a nearly three-fold increase compared to the previous year’s request.

Why It Matters

The Mesquite plant’s failure to produce usable artillery components undermines a critical element of the U.S. military’s industrial base strategy. The facility was funded with nearly half a billion dollars and designed to offset massive inventory losses caused by wartime aid to Ukraine and other commitments. Its inability to meet specifications delays broader efforts to rebuild stockpiles and maintain readiness.

The inspector general’s findings highlight systemic risks in defense acquisition, particularly the decision to deploy unproven manufacturing systems under urgent timelines. With U.S. artillery production still falling short of strategic goals, the Pentagon faces continued pressure to identify viable alternatives while managing shifting battlefield demands and budget priorities.