Delayed ammo to Ukraine prompts Pentagon accountability push

The US Army is taking steps to impose penalties on Northrop Grumman Corp. and Global Military Products Inc. for late deliveries of artillery ammunition to Ukraine, reflecting the Pentagon’s broader push to hold defence contractors accountable.

The Army’s Contracting Command said it is acting on recommendations from a November 20 report by the Pentagon Inspector General, which called for $1.1 million in penalties related to delayed shipments of large-calibre shells—some of which arrived up to 18 months late. The Army noted that the exact penalty amounts per company are still being assessed and are “not available for release at this time.”

“The Army is committed to holding contractors accountable by actively monitoring contract execution, documenting performance, and applying contractual remedies for non-compliance,” the service said in a statement.

While the $1.1 million penalty represents only a small fraction of the total contract value, the announcement comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged to reform Pentagon acquisitions and punish contractors that fail to deliver critical supplies on time.

A Northrop Grumman spokesperson referred inquiries to the Army, while representatives for Tampa-based Global Military Products did not respond to requests for comment.

Army acquisition chief Brent Ingraham told Bloomberg News that the service “acknowledges” the Inspector General’s concerns and that “corrective actions are either completed or actively underway,” including efforts to collect the $1.1 million in penalties.

The contractors were awarded a five-year Special Ammunition and Weapons System “indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity” contract in January 2022 under the Biden administration’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

The Pentagon Inspector General reviewed seven contracts from Northrop Grumman and Global Military, valued at $1.9 billion. The audit found that the Army had failed to effectively procure ammunition for Ukraine in five of the contracts, potentially overpaid for some shipments, allowed contractors to miss delivery deadlines, and did not hold them accountable.

Additionally, the Inspector General reported that $907 million worth of ammunition has not yet been delivered, noting that “these funds could be put to better use” if the orders were canceled.

In response, the Army said that the $907 million represents five separate contracts. “A portion of the ammunition has been delivered, a portion of the undelivered order will be canceled, and the remainder of the order will be delivered,” the service said.

By Tamilla Hasanova