Defective Turkish-made machines have left Ukraine without shells, despite a $533 million contract with the Pentagon.

General Dynamics received $533 million from the Pentagon in 2022 without a formal bid, yet failed to deliver any usable 155-millimeter shells for Ukraine. ProPublica reports that this unfulfilled promise stems from faulty equipment supplied by the Turkish contractor Repkon in 2024. The machines constantly malfunctioned and produced defects instead of the promised increase in ammunition production. The Pentagon's inspector general found eight missed deadlines by August 2025, as two out of three assembly lines completely stopped working. By July 2026, not a single shell had reached Kyiv despite significant funding commitments. Repkon faced no penalties, while General Dynamics continued to sign new contracts. US Army officials claim they expect discounts on future orders to offset these substantial losses. President Trump previously vowed severe punishment for anyone leaking news about American stockpiles being depleted.