(28 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scranton, Pennsylvania – 27 August 2024
1. Large caliber 155 millimeter metal projectors are heat treated
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“So the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is undergoing one of the largest modernization events in its history. We started modernizing the facility about two years ago. We’re about halfway through the process now. Roughly 20 modernization projects valued at a little over $400 million.”
3. Various of Billet Heating process
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“We achieved 36,000 rounds per month within the northeastern Pennsylvania operation about six months ago. Prior to that, we’re manufacturing about 24,000 a month.”
5. Robot handling hot shell
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“We have several new production lines currently going in right now.”
7. Wide shot of new production line being installed
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“Obviously, adding additional production lines and taking care, you know, taking advantage of modern technology, it’s huge. It’s a huge production advantage.”
9. Man handling 155 mm projectile
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“This would be either the rough turn process where it takes the part from, a tube, a gray tube, and completely finishes the outside of the part to the technical data package specification. So that would be three or four processes. One machine can do that. Instead of a line of machines 50 feet long.”
11. Projectile being inspected
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“So you put that in as a gray, you know, projectile and it comes out the other end as a finished machine part. It comes out of that machine as a finished…instead of coming out instead of going from one process to another…it’s all inside one machine. So is it more efficient? Yeah, it is, but it’s different. So that’s why we’re taking advantage of machining technology to be able to do that.”
13. Collection of projectiles
14. People working on projectiles
15. Projectiles being auto painted
STORYLINE:
A Pennsylvania ammunition plant that makes a key artillery shell in Ukraine’s fight against Russia has managed to boost production by 50% to meet surging demand, with more capacity set to come on line.
Government officials revealed the increase in production this week as they showcased the historic factory’s ongoing, $400 million modernization.
The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant cuts and forges 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) bars of steel into 155 mm howitzer rounds that are then shipped to Iowa to be packed with explosives and fitted with fuses. From there, many of them make their way to the fight in Ukraine, where they are highly sought.
The Scranton plant, along with two other ammunition plants in nearby Wilkes-Barre, recently increased production from 24,000 rounds per month to 36,000 rounds per month. Three new production lines are under development that will allow the Scranton facility to churn out even more of the critical munitions, the factory’s top official said.
The U.S. has sent more than 3 million 155 mm artillery rounds to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022, according to government figures. Earlier this month, the White House announced another $125 million in weapons to assist Ukraine in its military operations against Russia, including 155 mm shells.
AP video shot by Ted Shaffrey
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