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France’s Forges de Tarbes Surges in Production of 155mm Shell Bodies for Ukraine and European Rearmament

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Amira Barkhush
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France’s Forges de Tarbes Surges in Production of 155mm Shell Bodies for Ukraine and European Rearmament
Shells at the workshop of the “Forges de Tarbes” which produces 155mm shells, the munition for French Caesar artillery guns in use by the Ukrainian armed forces, in Tarbes, southwestern France, April 4, 2023. (Source: Getty Images)

Once facing liquidation in 2021, the Forges de Tarbes is now racing to keep up with soaring demand, with a key focus on scaling up production of 155 mm shell bodies for Ukraine and the rearmament of European forces, TV5 Monde reported on March 17.

“We went from nearly shutting down in 2022 to producing close to 60,000 shell bodies in 2024,” Europlasma CEO Jérôme Garnache-Creuillot told AFP. “Right now, we’re making around 2,000 shells a week, and by year’s end, we aim for 15,000 a month.”

Garnache-Creuillot added that Russia is believed to churn out around 50,000 shells daily.

According to TV5 Monde, the Tarbes facility, which is operated by the French company Europlasma and employs 80 people, aims to double its output. It remains the only site in France producing these hollow shell bodies, which are then sent to defense giant KNDS (formerly Nexter) to be filled with explosives.

The news outlet notes that the factory in Tarbes produces both NATO-standard 155 mm shells and 152 mm shells for Soviet-era artillery systems, supplying several Eastern European nations.

Shells bound for Ukraine make up a large part of production, but Europlasma’s business goes beyond that. One recent contract with the Czech Republic covers 50,000 shell bodies, with 31,000 due in 2025.

Garnache-Creuillot estimates the Tarbes site could eventually ramp up to 20,000 shells per day. These shells supply French Caesar howitzers, now a key asset on Ukraine’s front lines.

“The idea is to produce at the Forges de Tarbes and, in the future, to be able to manufacture large-caliber shells in Valdunes,” he said, referring to the site in northern France where Europlasma acquired the country’s last bankrupt train wheel maker in 2024.

Europe 1 reported on March 18 that the French government is preparing to distribute a crisis and survival manual to all households by this summer. This booklet, which draws inspiration from Sweden’s model, will guide citizens on how to respond to various threats, including armed conflict, natural disasters, and health crises.

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