radford army ammunition plant Radford, Virginia
Mission Manufacture propellants and explosives in support of field artillery, air defense, tank, missile, aircraft, and weapons systems for all branches of the armed forces. History In August 1940, Hercules Powder Company reached agreement with the U.S. government to build/operate Radford Ordnance Works and New River Plant. Construction was completed in six months. Operated under a cost-plus contract, the Army directed approximately 97 percent of the work. In 1995, Alliant Techsystems, Inc., obtained a firm fixed-price facility-use contract. Directed workload is only 2 percent and 98 percent is competitively obtained. Joliet Army Ammunition Plant medium-caliber load, assembly, and pack (LAP) mission was relocated to Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) in 1999.
U.S. Army photo
Installation Overview RFAAP is five factories in one producing nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, medium-caliber ammunition, solvent-based propellants, and solventless propellants. Radford operates chemical, metrology, and ballistics labs. RFAAP facilities occupy approximately 7,000 acres in two separate locations. There are more than 2,500 buildings (including ammunition storage), which provide more than 3 million square feet of covered areas. RFAAP is an Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support (ARMS) site with several tenants. Tenant revenue is used to off set facilities costs. Competencies It is the sole continental United States producer of nitrocellulose and solventless propellant for various rocket motors. Produces single- and multi-base propellants. LAP facility for medium-caliber munitions, 25 to 30 mm. Department of Defense munitions storage capability of approximately 200 igloos/magazines.
///// A view of Radford Army Ammunition Plant’s new Nitrocellulose Plant (NAC/SAC). The NAC/SAC represents one of Army Materiel Command’s strategic modernization projects aimed at developing a modern and efficient ammunition industrial base to provide America’s Warfighter with the decisive edge today and in the future.
Capabilities at a Glance RFAAP manufactures intermediate products of nitric acid, nitroglycerine, and nitrocellulose used in the production of both solvent and solventless propellants classified as single base, double base, and triple base. ARMS tenants also produce medium-caliber ammunition, commercial powders, specialty energetic capability, and explosion simulators. Contact Information Radford Army Ammunition Plant ATTN: JMRF-CO P.O. Box 2 Radford, VA 24143-0002 (540) 731-5762 (COM), 231-5762 (DSN) rfaap@afsc.army.mil
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