MESQUITE, Texas — General Dynamics this week officially opened a new manufacturing plant in Mesquite that will produce artillery parts for the military. It’s expected to prioritize munition production to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The 440,000-plus-square-foot manufacturing and warehousing facility in an industrial park near the intersection of I-635 and U.S. Highway 80 is expected to initially employ 150 people, increasing to more than 350 once the plant reaches full production, according to a General Dynamics spokesperson. Production is expected to begin at the plant in the third quarter of this year.
The plant opened about 10 months after crews broke ground on the project in March of last year.
“This Universal Artillery Projectile Line facility was designed and purpose-built to integrate new, innovative manufacturing processes to provide a resilient and enduring industrial capability for our warfighters,” said Firat Gezen, President of General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. “This project is a testament to what partnership across the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, Congress, Industry, and the local community can accomplish when working together to achieve a common mission and support national security. We are grateful for the U.S. Army, our JPEO A&A teammates, our equipment supplier REPKON, Swinerton, numerous trade partners, and the GD-OTS employees who have worked diligently to make this significant occasion a reality.”
The factory will produce 155-millimeter artillery parts, of the kind needed by Ukraine, and offer the flexibility to manufacture a variety of projectile metal parts ranging in calibers from 60 millimeters to 155 millimeters, according to General Dynamics.
The opening of the plant in Mesquite comes after Congress passed a $95 billion foreign aid package last month that included about $61 billion allocated for Ukraine.
Congressman Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and said in a statement that nearly $40 billion of the Ukraine funding is allocated to U.S. factories that produce missiles and munitions.
“Texas has a long tradition of supporting our military industrial base, and thanks to our bipartisan efforts to pass aid to Ukraine, this facility will continue that work,” said Allred. “The new General Dynamics plant in Mesquite will bolster munition production that will aid Ukraine while creating good jobs and strengthening our economy here in North Texas. Overall, our bipartisan work sends a message to Russia and other autocratic nations that the U.S. stands in defense of democracy and democratic values.”
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