US Spends Over $1.6Bln in Ukraine Aid to Boost Domestic Shell Production - Document
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States has directed over $1.6 billion in Ukraine aid funding toward expanding the US military’s industrial base, benefiting domestic arms manufacturers and boosting homegrown shell production, a Sputnik correspondent’s analysis of the US Army’s latest budget for fiscal year 2026 showed.
The 155mm artillery shells have been crucial for Ukraine as they are a standard NATO caliber widely used in howitzer systems provided through US military assistance. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly faced a "shell hunger" on the front lines, at times resorting to rationing rounds. This persistent shortage underscores why large-scale US domestic production expansion has become a convenient necessity for Washington.
Although the $1.6 billion was initially disbursed in fiscal year 2024, its diversion for domestic purposes was first revealed in the US Army’s fiscal year 2026 budget report.
According to the budget report, a significant portion of this funding, totaling over $623 million, is allocated to the design and construction of a new Trinitrotoluene (TNT) Production Facility. This facility is designed to produce five million pounds of TNT annually, a critical explosive fill for 155mm artillery shells. The facility aims to reduce reliance on "risky" foreign suppliers and secure uninterrupted domestic production as US stockpiles continue to be drawn down for Ukraine.
