War in Ukraine: immersion in the only French factory manufacturing 155 mm shells

Manufacturing monitored to the millimeter

The slightest error during manufacture can prove fatal on the front. Today, a 55mm shell can be delivered in six months. The factory wants to go down to three months. To produce more and faster, it must recruit and train technicians. Applicants must be psychologically strong. “We manufacture ammunition, it has a purpose, we all know it. We have people who are not ready to work for this kind of field”, explains the chemical product line manager.

Beyond the issues of productivity, the French authorities want to repatriate all the components of a shell to the territory, in particular the powder that allows them to be fired. For 15 years, France has been getting supplies from Sweden. From 2024, the powder will be produced in the Dordogne. The factory is organizing to increase production rates, without knowing how long the war in Ukraine will last. “It’s an economic risk, we are going to manufacture products that we will have in stock. (…) For me, it’s not a story of money, it’s a choice of national strategy”, comments the director .