The U.S. industrial base for munitions and energetics is at a crossroads, with the Army investing heavily in munitions technology and production capacity. This includes a critical focus on artillery shells, which complements a simultaneous pursuit of vitally needed howitzer capability improvements – all in search of desperately needed improved long-range precision artillery fires.
But to fully realize the artillery capability needed, the Army must also invest in propellant technology and associated production capabilities to ensure the U.S. defense industrial base can support the surge with affordable, accessible, domestic production of Nitrocellulose (NC) and propellant at scale.
Unfortunately, the existing industrial base infrastructure is not well suited to manufacture the advanced energetics needed for surging demand and higher artillery performance. Currently, the most advanced technology and production resides outside the U.S. For example, the U.S. sources some of its most important artillery propellants from Canada, creating supply chain risk. The most advanced tank and artillery propellant technologies in use in systems globally are found in overseas allied industrial bases. Addressing these shortcomings in domestic technology and production is critical to enabling U.S. howitzers – and tanks and medium caliber systems – to deliver the increased lethality American servicemembers need and deserve, and to ensure industrial resilience and magazine depth to win even in prolonged battles.
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