El US Army ha lanzado una convocatoria de empresas que puedan fabricar tubos (ca\u00f1ones) para obuses calibre 155mm, ante el temor que la \u00fanica planta industrial disponible, (Watervielt Arsenal) espec\u00edfica para tubos de tanques y ca\u00f1ones, no est\u00e9 en capacidad de satisfacer la enorme demanda de estos componentes vitales, que se estima existir\u00eda en el futuro. El uso intensivo de obuses (como los M777) en el conflicto de Ucrania, ha desgastado r\u00e1pidamente las armas y generado una inesperada demanda de reemplazos que superan la capacidad de producci\u00f3n disponible, por lo que resulta imprescindible recomponer a la brevedad los stocks de esa fuerza terrestre.<\/p>\n
The U.S. Army is looking for new manufacturers to build barrels for 155mm howitzers<\/a> amid concerns at the Pentagon that the government\u2019s only plant for manufacturing them can\u2019t keep up<\/a> with the increased demand for artillery.<\/p>\n The Army wants contractors that can manufacture up to 10 barrels per month within three years, according to the Sources Sought notice<\/a>. The deadline is Nov. 23.<\/p>\n Companies were asked to provide details of their ability \u2014 or their subcontractor\u2019s capacity \u2014 to make barrels, including whether they could add \u201cchrome bore coatings on a steel tube up to 30 [feet] long and up to 7,500 pounds in weight,\u201d the notice said. They should also provide the maximum length and weight of tube that they could coat.<\/p>\n Also desired are details on a company\u2019s boring, milling and rifling capabilities, as well as details on raw materials, such as \u201csteel preform production, forging, guide bore, and heat treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n The notice asks contractors to estimate their capacity to manufacture 155mm barrels within 18 months, and up to 10 barrels per month within 36 months. Companies should also offer a cost estimate for an \u201cinitial production quantity of 40 cannon tubes (broken down by caliber or indicating pricing for a combined\/flexible mix),\u201d the Army said.<\/p>\n Currently, the Army makes large-caliber barrels for howitzers and tanks only at the aging Watervliet Arsenal<\/a> in New York.<\/p>\n While America and Europe have been focused on expanding production of howitzer ammunition<\/a> to meet demand in the Ukraine war and replenish domestic stockpiles, another problem is a lack of manufacturing capacity to replace worn-out cannon barrels.<\/p>\n A 2024 Pentagon budget document stated that Ukraine\u2019s heavy use of M777 howitzers created a demand for more than 30 M776 tubes per month, according to The War Zone<\/a>. The document admitted that Watervliet could not keep up with demand, and asked for emergency funding to be transferred to enable a second manufacturer of barrels.<\/p>\n The new notice doesn\u2019t mention how many additional barrel manufacturers are needed. However, the Army is exploring whether to replace<\/a> the M777 with a weapon based on Korea\u2019s popular K9 howitzer.<\/p>\n