General Dynamics plans to develop 12-15 new buildings as part of a major expansion of the company’s munitions manufacturing plant south of Montreal, according to multiple published reports.

The U.S.-based defence contractor is expanding the production capacity at its General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) Canada factory in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., commonly known as Valleyfield. The expansion is designed to restock 155-millimetre artillery rounds for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Ukraine’s war effort depends heavily on 155-millimetre rounds supplied by Canada, the U.S. and other allies, according to a Canadian Commercial Corporation news release. CCC, which is Canada’s government-to-government contracting agency, and the U.S. Army have signed an agreement known as an “undefinitized contract action” to enable the plant expansion.

The GD-OTS Canada facility Quebec, specializes in the production of artillery propellants – including M31A2. 

La Presse and Le Journal Saint-François reported that GDI could construct a new explosives dryer, along with a pre-mixing unit, a mixing and blocking unit and an extrusion and cutting unit. The units would be housed in a 135,000-square-foot building as part of the expansion, according to La Presse.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025. La Presse reported that the project will run until 2028.