France to open plant for production of 155mm shells in Belgium

France plans to open a new plant for the production of 155mm artillery shells in Belgium.

A military observer for The Insider reported on this.

The plant will be opened next week by KNDS Mecar in Belgium, a subsidiary of the French company Ouest-France.

In the long run, this will provide a significant increase in the production of artillery shells, which are now so much needed by both Ukraine and European militaries.

It should be noted that the Petit-Roeulx-les-Nivelles plant will specialize in producing the artillery shells.

They will be filled with explosives at other enterprises in Belgium and France.

Despite the opening, the plant’s full operation will begin no earlier than 2025, excluding the increase in production rates.

In addition to expanding the production of 155-mm shell casings, France is also expanding the production of special modular artillery charges used to fire artillery shells.

Modular propellant charge manufacturer Eurenco plans to increase production of propellant charges for artillery to 500,000 units per year.

According to the order, the French company will launch production and produce up to 1,200 tons of artillery powder per year at its facilities in Bergerac, for which over €500 million have been invested.

Militarnyi previously reported that a new gunpowder production line for the needs of the EU and Ukraine was being built in the French city of Bergerac.

The plant’s new production line should start operating in early 2025, and almost immediately, the Ukrainian military should receive the first “fruits” of its production.