(21 Sep 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scranton, Pennsylvania - 27 August 2024
1. Large caliber 155 millimeter metal projectors are heat treated
++COVERED++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“My name is Rich Hansen. I'm the commander's representative here at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. I'm the senior government representative for the facility.”
3. Billet Heating process
++COVERED++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“So you're looking at the 155 millimeter M795 production process.”
++PARTLY COVERED++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“So the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is undergoing one of the largest modernization events in its history. We started modernizing the facility about two years ago. Now we're about halfway through the process now. Roughly 20 modernization projects valued at a little over $400 million.”
6. Expanded production space
7. Various of new projectile making equipment
++COVERED++
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
“We we achieved 36,000 rounds per month, within the northeastern Pennsylvania operation about six months ago. Prior to that, we were manufacturing about 24,000 a month.”
9. Robot arm picks up hot projectile
10. People work on assembly line
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
++COVERED++
“We have several new production lines currently going in right now.”
12. Robot works on assembly line
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Hansen, Scranton Army Ammunition Plant:
++COVERED++
“Obviously adding additional production lines and taking care, you know, taking advantage of modern technology. It's huge. It's a huge production advantage.”
13. Projectiles being auto paintedmunition Plant:
++COVERED++
“Obviously adding additional production lines and taking care, you know, taking advantage of modern technology. It's huge. It's a huge production advantage.”
13. Projectiles being auto painted
STORYLINE:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday will visit the Pennsylvania ammunition factory that is producing one of the most critically needed munitions for his country's fight to fend off Russian ground forces.
He is expected to go to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant to kick off a busy week in the United States shoring up support for Ukraine in the war, according to two U.S. officials and a third familiar with Zelenskyy's schedule who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that were not yet public. He also will address the U.N. General Assembly annual gathering in New York and travel to Washington for talks on Thursday with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Scranton plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155 mm artillery shells. They are used in howitzer systems, which are towed large guns with long barrels that can fire at various angles. Howitzers can strike targets up to 15 miles to 20 miles (24 kilometers to 32 kilometers) away and are highly valued by ground forces to take out enemy targets from a protected distance.
Ukraine has already received more than 3 million of the 155 mm shells from the U.S.
With the war now well into its third year, Zelenskyy has been pushing the U.S. for permission to use longer range missile systems to fire deeper inside of Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its NATO allies if they allow Ukraine to use the long-range weapons.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
