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Iowa’s Future Artillery Hub to Produce 36,000 Shells Monthly for US, NATO and Ukraine
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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MSM North America will begin producing 432,000 155-mm artillery shells annually in Iowa under its new ‘Future Artillery Complex,’ according to a post published on the website of Czechoslovak Group, which owns MSM North America, on August 20.
The project, backed by a $632 million Pentagon investment, will be built on the grounds of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.
The facility will handle explosive filling, assembly, and packaging, enabling production of 36,000 shells per month.
“The facility will enable the loading of 36,000 155mm artillery rounds per month, becoming a vital pillar of US and allied defense readiness.,” Czechoslovak Group, the European parent company of MSM North America, said.
The initiative marks a rare instance of a strategic US Army project being executed by a company owned by a European defense group. Construction is expected to take 40 months, with full production scheduled for September 2029.
“The facility will employ approximately 70 highly skilled personnel in manufacturing, quality assurance, and operations support, and it will have a significant local impact by protecting jobs in the Burlington/Middletown, Iowa area for 50+ years,” MSM North America claims.
MSM North America is serving as the general contractor, overseeing design, construction, and system implementation in coordination with the US Army. Key partners include WIELAND (construction), IPS Custom Automation (robotics), and DetTX (energy processing, safety, and environmental compliance), alongside Cromwell (architecture), SMS (safety engineering), Weldon (automation), VJ Technologies (X-ray equipment), and Lee Industries (boiler production).
Czechoslovak Group is a leading manufacturer of large-caliber munitions, controlling nearly the entire production cycle—from raw materials like TNT and nitrocellulose to finished 120- and 155-mm shells—at facilities across Europe in Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Serbia, and Greece.
“This comprehensive approach ensures high-quality, reliable supply chains, enabling CSG to meet stringent NATO standards and support critical defense needs, including significant deliveries of 155mm artillery rounds and other types of large caliber ammunition to Ukraine,” CSG emphasized.
Previously, it was reported that Czech defense manufacturer Excalibur Army, one of the largest suppliers of weapons to Ukraine, has officially opened a local office in the country, according to a post on X by their parent company Czechoslovak Group.
