The Army and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD OTS) [GD] on Tuesday opened a new load, assemble and pack (LAP) facility for 155mm artillery projectiles, as the service continues its push to reach a build rate of 100,000 rounds per month.
The new facility in Camden, Arkansas will have two LAP lines, according to the Army, that will support final assembly of 50,000 155mm artillery rounds per month when fully operational.
“The Army must transform and get war-winning capabilities into the hands of soldiers now, including key munitions. The Camden load, assembly, and pack munitions facility is just one of several modernization investments the Army is making to reinforce and strengthen our defense industrial base,” Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said in a statement. “The Army remains committed to delivering relevant munitions at speed and scale to our soldiers, the joint force and allies and partners. It is not lost on us that a key component of victory on the battlefield starts in our production facilities.”
The Army over the last few years has incrementally increased its 155mm artillery shell production to reach a goal to build 100,000 155mm rounds per month by late 2025, as the service works to replenish its own stockpiles and support requirements for international partners such as Ukraine.
“Since 2022, the Army has nearly quadrupled its monthly production of this critical munition—driven by efforts to improve readiness, respond to global demands, and incorporate lessons learned from current conflicts,” the Army said on Tuesday
In October 2023, the Army selected GD OTS to compete for orders under a $974.4 million Army deal to load, assemble and pack 155mm M1128 artillery rounds and a separate $993.8 million production contract for 155mm M795 artillery rounds (Defense Daily, Oct. 2 2023).
GD OTS noted at the time that it had received an initial $218 million task order under the LAP contract that included “funding for M1128 facilitization and production at OTS’ operations in Camden, Arkansas.”
“This General Dynamics Camden facility was designed and purpose-built to integrate new, innovative artillery production and assembly processes, providing a more resilient and enduring industrial capability for our warfighters,” GD OTS President Joshua Thompson said on Tuesday.
The new LAP facility is set to incorporate “advanced automation and digital quality tracking for improved consistency and throughput” and will utilize a “next-generation air-cooling system for explosive curing to reduce water use in contrast to legacy cooling methods,” the Army said.