MSM North America, part of the CSG Group, wins U.S. Army contract to build the most advanced ammunition loading facility in North America
MSM North America, a subsidiary of the global Czechoslovak Group (CSG), has won a U.S. Army contract to design, construct, and commission the most advanced large-caliber ammunition loading facility in North America. The contract for the so-called Future Artillery Complex (FAC), to be built at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, was signed between MSM North America and the U.S. Department of Defense on August 15. With a value of up to $632 million, the facility will enable the loading of 36,000 155mm artillery rounds per month, becoming a vital pillar of U.S. and allied defense readiness. It represents a unique case in which this strategic project for the U.S. Army is being executed by a company owned by a European defense industry group.

With a value of up to $632 million, the facility will enable the loading of 36,000 155mm artillery rounds per month, becoming a cornerstone of support for U.S. and allied defense readiness. The FAC will provide the Army with a scalable, flexible, and affordable explosive load, assemble, and pack (LAP) facility, leveraging lean manufacturing principles, robotics, automation, and fully integrated System Control and Data Acquisition systems to ensure operator safety and consistent product quality. This cutting-edge technology will allow seamless transitions between products with minimal downtime and economic operation at either peak capacity or reduced Minimum Sustaining Rate (MSR), ensuring the Army retains an organic, cost-effective means to meet the evolving demands of the warfighter under any wartime conditions.
Michal Strnad, Owner and Chairman of the Board of Czechoslovak Group (CSG): “Congratulations to Jason Gaines, CEO of MSM North America, and his team on securing the contract to build the Future Artillery Complex (FAC) for the U.S. Army. This is a tremendous success, made unique by the fact that the trust was given to a company that is part of a European defense industry group. This project is proof of CSG’s global reach and its ability to contribute to strengthening the defense readiness of our allies. I am proud that CSG’s technical know-how and strategic support helped secure this victory, which opens new growth opportunities for MSM North America in the U.S. market. We are also grateful to our U.S. industry partners, without whom we would not have been able to offer such a complete solution.”
Jason W. Gaines, Chief Executive Officer of MSM North America: “We are deeply honored by the trust the U.S. Army has placed in us with this contract. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the CSG team for their invaluable support and expertise, without which MSM North America would not have secured this opportunity. We are excited to collaborate with a top-tier team of American firms under MSM North America’s leadership to deliver this transformative project.”
The role of CSG
Winning the contract to build a strategic production facility for the U.S. Army represents a unique case in which such a project has been awarded to a company that is part of a European defense industry group, strengthening the transatlantic bond between Europe and the United States. CSG played a key role in securing this success through its global expertise in ammunition production and the technical support provided by specialists from its CSG Defence division, including engineering personnel from several European facilities. This project reinforces CSG’s position as a trusted partner in the international defense industry and opens new growth opportunities for MSM North America in the U.S. market.
The Czechoslovak Group (CSG), a leading European defense and industrial group, is a key player in the production of large-caliber ammunition, distinguished by its advanced vertical integration. Unlike many competitors, CSG controls nearly the entire production chain—from raw materials like TNT and nitrocellulose to finished 155mm and 120mm ammunition—across multiple facilities in Europe, including the Spain, Germany, Slovak Republic, Serbia, Greece. This comprehensive approach ensures high-quality, reliable supply chains, enabling CSG to meet stringent NATO standards and support critical defense needs, including significant deliveries of 155mm artillery rounds and other types of large caliber ammunition to Ukraine. With ongoing expansions, such as doubled capacity for shell bodies and explosive filling within two years and new production of TNT and nitrocellulose, CSG strengthens its position as a key supplier to NATO allies and Ukraine, enhancing Europe’s defense resilience and global security.
About Future Artillery Complex (FAC)
The FAC will be the most advanced explosive loading facility in the world, designed to explosively load current and future 155mm artillery rounds utilizing a melt-cast process, with additional assembly operations for various round types. Construction is expected to be completed within 40 months, with full commissioning and production starting in September 2029. The facility will employ approximately 70 highly skilled personnel in manufacturing, quality assurance, and operations support, and it will have a significant local impact by protecting jobs in the Burlington/Middletown, Iowa area for 50+ years.
MSM North America serves as the prime contractor and project integrator, managing delivery across design, construction, and system implementation in coordination with the U.S. Army. Key partners include WIELAND, an ENR Top-400 industrial and commercial construction firm headquartered in Michigan, responsible for site development and building construction; IPS Custom Automation in Arlington, Texas, for robotic and automated solutions; and DetTX in Dallas, Texas, for energetics processing, process design, environmental compliance, and safety management. Additional collaborators include Cromwell (architectural firm), SMS (safety engineering), Weldon (automation equipment), VJ Technologies (X-ray equipment), and Lee Industries (kettle fabrication).
The facility will meet rigorous safety and environmental standards, including OSHA 1910.119(e), DoD Manual 4145.26, MIL-STD-882E, and DESR 6055.09, with approvals from the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board (DDESB) and coordination with Iowa state agencies and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As a Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) facility, the FAC enhances production resilience and surge capacity, ensuring readiness and supply continuity. It aligns with the U.S. Department of Defense’s mission to modernize the aging industrial base and Secretary Hegseth’s call to implement 21st-century production capabilities for national defense during wartime. The FAC is expected to be the primary source for U.S. Army 155mm LAP requirements, with potential support for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS), and it will serve all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces through the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A).