PARSONS, Kan. -- The U.S. Army and defense contractor Day & Zimmermann have opened a new munitions manufacturing facility in Parsons to expand production of M795 155mm artillery projectile rounds. The site supports the load, assemble, and pack stage of production, the final phase in manufacturing the high-explosive artillery ammunition.
The expansion is part of a broader effort by the U.S. Department of Defense to modernize the domestic munitions industrial base and increase output of conventional artillery. The Army invested $36 million in engineering and production infrastructure at the Parsons location. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce up to 12,000 projectiles per month.
The Parsons plant represents the 13th recent expansion in the Army’s munitions production network. Federal officials have emphasized the need to increase output to support ongoing global security requirements and to ensure the military can sustain prolonged combat operations. The M795 projectile is a standard high-explosive round used by both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps in conventional ground warfare.
The U.S. military’s broader production objective is to reach a total capacity of 100,000 155mm artillery rounds per month across its network of facilities. The Parsons site will rely on automation and updated assembly processes to help meet that target.
The opening of the Parsons facility highlights a renewed emphasis on large-scale conventional warfare capabilities. After decades focused on counterinsurgency and precision strike operations, recent conflicts have demonstrated the high consumption rates of traditional artillery ammunition. Expanding production of high-volume munitions such as the M795 reflects a shift toward rebuilding industrial capacity, improving supply resilience, and preparing for sustained, large-scale military operations.
