CDR asked Ottawa Bureau Chief, James Careless, to speak with Remo Assini, President of IMT Precision, and to U.S. Army Major General, John T. Reim, about the company’s expanded 155mm ammunition production line. Here is our report. Canada is seeking to increase its munitions stockpiles and has asked ammunition manufacturers to come up with a plan to boost production of 155mm ammunition. Well, IMT Precision (formerly IMT Defence) has done just that.
By James Careless
New Lines of Production
2024 has been an astounding year for IMT Precision. On October 2, 2024, this manufacturer of medium and large caliber ammunition (25mm to 155mm) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its Ingersoll, Ontario facility. The event, which was attended by U.S. Army Major General John T. Reim, Commanding General of Picatinny Arsenal and Joint Program Executive Officer Armaments & Ammunition (JPEO A&A), along with other dignitaries, celebrated the opening of the company’s expanded 155mm ammunition production to provision the U.S. Army.
READ: IMT Precision Opens New 155mm Production Line in Ingersoll
That’s not all: In March 2024, Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, announced that IMT Precision would share in $4.4 million to develop detailed proposals to increase 155mm production for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
For the record, IMT Precision’s Ingersoll expansion includes a 90,000 sq ft building addition and two new production lines; one for the 155mm M795 and the other for the 155mm M1128.
“This ceremony at IMT Precision recognized the team effort and commitment from both IMT and JPEO A&A in bringing a new and advanced 155mm metal parts production facility online,” said Maj. Gen. Reim. “This facility is a big step forward in strengthening our munitions capabilities, with new lines that will produce up to 15,000 155mm shell bodies each month. This facility will be able to produce the trusted M795 as well as the U.S. Army’s new ‘go to war’ round, the M1128, that has an impressive 33% increase in range and can hit targets up to 30 kilometers away. This is all about providing our Joint Warfighters and international partners with safe, reliable, and lethal munitions at speed and scale.”
“The contract delivers significant support to one of our closest allies by supplying ammunition that is in high demand,” added Remo Assini, President of IMT Precision. “The contract allowed IMT to build a new state-of-the-art production line while introducing innovative processes and the next level of automation in the production of ammunition — along with creating over 250 new direct jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs. The experience gained in this contract will prepare IMT to support the GoC in establishing a similar production line for ammunition for the Canadian Forces.”
WHY IMT PRECISION WAS CHOSEN BY THE US ARMY
According to Maj. Gen. Reim, IMT Precision was selected for their expertise and track record in producing projectile metal parts. “They stood out as the top choice to bring 155mm production capabilities online for both the M795 and the M1128 projectiles on an accelerated timeline,” he told CDR. “IMT’s new production line for 155mm shell bodies is packed with the latest technology — it’s highly flexible and incorporates advanced automation, digital data collection, new and advanced forging, furnaces, non-destructive testing, and machining capabilities. Its production line ensures efficient, high-quality output and brings a modern edge to our artillery production.”
At the same time, IMT Precision has built its reputation by supplying Canada and its allies with high quality, reliable ammunition for over 100 years. “This includes supplying ammunition directly to the USG [U.S. government] with a proven track record,” Assini noted. “Only a few firms in North America have the expertise to manufacture 155mm projectile bodies and IMT is one of them. IMT demonstrated to the USG our understanding of the technical and quality requirement and proposed a solution that was executable in the shortest possible time.”
ammunition – IMT Precision: FULFILLING A SIGNIFICANT NEED
IMT Precision is one of many North American companies providing 155mm shell bodies to the U.S. Army. In doing so, the company is fulfilling a real need for the US Department of Defense.
“To put it simply, we need to make sure our Defense Industrial Base is up to speed to meet our capacity needs and those of our allies to deter aggression worldwide, or if needed, fight and win our nation’s wars,” said Maj. Gen. Reim. “We’ve set some ambitious goals for ourselves; one such goal is producing 100,000 artillery shots per month by 2026. We define a shot as a complete 155mm round, which includes the fuze, explosively loaded projectile, a propelling charge, and primer. The new IMT facility is a key part of our strategy, giving us the added capacity to stay ahead of evolving requirements. It is not lost on us that victory in the field begins in our production facilities.”
As to why the U.S. Army came to a Canadian factory for ammunition, as well as relying on many plants in the United States? “Our two nations share a strong, time-tested alliance rooted in our commitment to global peace and security,” Maj. Gen. Reim replied. “Our defence relationship spans a wide spectrum, from joint continental defence through NORAD, to close collaboration in NATO and Five Eyes intelligence sharing. This contract adds to our shared mission of promoting peace and security around the world.”
PROGRESS TO DATE
The October 2024 ribbon cutting occurred as IMT Precision was putting the finishing touches on its expanded 155mm production facility. “The building addition is complete,” said Assini. “The 155mm M795 production line is completely installed and will be qualified before year end 2024. Production is to begin immediately following qualification. The 155mm M1128 production is currently being commissioned and will be qualified by mid 2025 followed immediately by production. And IMT has already begun the hiring process. Approximately 100 of 300 positions have been filled.”
Moving forward into 2025, IMT Precision plans to ramp up the new production lines to a total of 15,000 155mm shell bodies per month for the U.S. Army. It will also be preparing to launch a new 155mm production line for the Canadian government, to replenish the stocks of ammunition depleted by Canada’s support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression.
“Collectively, these wins demonstrate that IMT Precision has the systems and expertise in place to meet the high quality requirements necessary to produce ammunition,” Remo Assini told CDR. “IMT has proven through performance that we can meet or exceed these requirements.”
James Careless is CDR’s Ottawa Bureau Chief
