General Dynamics artillery factory project fails to produce usable shells

The U.S. Army reportedly paid General Dynamics $533 million for an artillery factory in Texas that failed to produce a single usable shell. According to former workers and internal documents, the facility suffered from severe mechanical failures, including robot arms catching fire and machinery cracking the steel intended for shells. In some instances, workers reportedly used sledgehammers to attempt to keep machines functioning.

One former official described the project as an “absolute disaster.” The Army stated it is exercising “rigorous oversight” and is currently evaluating contract performance to seek recoupment of funds where vendors fail to meet specifications. While General Dynamics has previously claimed it “met or exceeded requirements” in a Department of Defense inspector general report, a company spokesperson stated that recent reporting on the matter “fundamentally mischaracterizes the circumstances.”