D&M Holding Weighs Ukraine Propellant Plant for 155 mm Shells as Powder Bottlenecks Deepen
Updated
Updated · Мілітарний · Jul 24
D&M Holding Weighs Ukraine Propellant Plant for 155 mm Shells as Powder Bottlenecks Deepen
2 articles · Updated · Мілітарний · Jul 24
Summary
D&M Holding is evaluating a propellant-production facility in Ukraine, targeting powders and propelling charges rather than shell assembly to ease a critical ammunition raw-material shortage.
155 mm demand is a key driver: the company says triple-base powder can extend artillery range and barrel life, while global suppliers of such powders remain scarce.
A Ukrainian plant could use domestic wood pulp from the forestry sector alongside nitric and sulfuric acids, giving Kyiv a fuller ammunition production cycle and reducing import dependence.
D&M already has one Ukrainian small-arms ammunition line operating after 19 U.S. volunteers returned during the 2022 invasion to finish deployment, and it is now helping expand that site's capacity.
The company also says Ukrainian anti-drone small-caliber rounds are drawing outside interest, reinforcing its view that Ukraine could become a defense exporter for the next 30-50 years.
Could Ukraine's local forests hold the secret to solving the global military ammunition shortage?
How will building explosive propellant plants inside an active warzone reshape international defense supply chains?
Will combat-tested Ukrainian anti-drone technology soon dominate the global defense export market?
Breaking the Nitrocellulose Bottleneck: The 2025 US-Ukraine Joint Venture and Arkansas Propellant Plant in the Race to Re-Arm NATO
Overview
A global shortage of critical chemicals, especially nitrocellulose, has created a severe bottleneck in artillery ammunition production, with Western nations facing unreliable supply routes due to China's support for Russia. To address this, a major US–Ukraine joint venture was launched in July 2025, leading to a $70 million expansion of the White River Energetics facility in Arkansas, completed in early 2026. This facility boosts domestic propellant output and creates new jobs, but faces regulatory and safety hurdles. The initiative is part of a broader shift toward distributed, secure production strategies and increased investment, aiming to stabilize ammunition markets and reduce costs.