Robert Aderholt
08/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/08/2024 08:46
New Townley test site to be used by Redstone Arsenal
A Virginia corporation held a groundbreaking Wednesday, Aug. 7, for a military munitions testing ground in the Townley area, drawing county leaders and U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt to a site planned to be used by Redstone Arsenal.
"It truly is an historic groundbreaking event for Walker County," Aderholt said to those assembled, calling it a "national resource."
Global Technical Systems (GTS) has purchased 1,900 acres at 15151 Coal Valley Road, south of the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, at a reclaimed strip mine. The company for the new site will be called Defense Munitions Proving Ground, LLC (DMPG), which will, as the company said in an email, "help the munitions community design, test, and prove the newest and most lethal weapons."
A release on Wednesday afternoon said, "DMPG is making heavy infrastructure investments over the next 18-24 months to bring a world-class facility and dynamic opportunities to the great state of Alabama. Construction of range facilities and infrastructure was started in the second quarter of 2024, with testing activities scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2024. DMPG has already started by hiring local contractors from Walker County to build infrastructure, clear brush, and prepare the land for future construction while paying special attention to preserving the landscape and wildlife habitat.
"The state-of-the-art DoD Test & Evaluation facility will enable the Science & Technology Community to verify and evaluate critical technologies for the warfighter. DMPG will leverage timely and smart investments by the U.S. Government for the facilitation and accommodation of critical training technologies. This will enhance operational readiness and resilience of American soldiers."
This will create construction, maintenance, engineering, and range operation (technician) employment opportunities for the surrounding communities, the release said.
Jerry C. Smith, the Huntsville-based director of the GTS Munitions and Lethal Effects Division, was also introduced as the COO of DMPG. He led the opening festivities in a large covered pole barn that will be used for now for its work until the first phase of construction is completed.
Smith noted after the event that there is a shortage of such testing sites in the nation and that the company is already booked up at the site through the end of the year.
The site will be closed to the public, he said.
Construction activities will be needed at site
Five to 10 full-time workers are expected to be at the site after the end of the first phase, he said, but more are likely to be hired in the local community. "It is not just blowing something up. It is building what has to be blown up," he said. "Most of that is construction activities."
Officials such as Aderholt also noted that visiting companies wishing to test munitions will generate tourism dollars, staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, buying at businesses and getting gasoline.
Smith noted that due to the amount of land, the surrounding area should not be able to hear any noise.
"I would categorize everything as conventional munitions," Smith said. "We don't do any work with chemical or radiological or anything like that. This is a test site for smaller devices. We've already had a few operations out here. You can stand at the road and you won't know anything has happened."
He went on to say, "I would say some of the loudest noises that this land ever produced was when this was an active mine. Those days are over."
Speaking at the start of Wednesday's ceremonies, Smith said, "This has been a 20-year dream of mine, to put this capability in Alabama and provide this service to everyone that is here." He said that was especially true for Redstone Arsenal in North Alabama "to have a place to get things done, to get them done quickly and get them done right."
Aderholt met with GTS officials about site
Aderholt said he had met with the company officials over the past several months.
"Defense Munitions Proving Ground will make major investments over the next two years, bringing a world-class facility and dynamic opportunities to the state of Alabama, and particularly to this area and to Walker County," he said. The reclaimed mine lands "will be transformed into good paying jobs for construction, maintenance, engineering and range operations here just in this community."
He said what is exciting about the announcement was that the state again was "stepping up to deliver for our nation's security," and the area was stepping up as well.
"Technology of the future to sustain and strengthen U.S. deterrence against our enemies will be developed right here, where we are standing here," he said. "The bottom line is that local Alabamians and Walker Countians will be instrumental in producing multi-use equipment and parts that will directly impact weapon development and certification for the United States Department of Defense."
Aderholt said a highly skilled workforce will help reduce the backlog of defense programs competing for the use of a limited number of test facilities in the nation.
GTS will deliver "unmatched testing and training services" under the highest standards of performance, safety and reliability for clients, he said. Employees will support the defense industry and government agencies with a goal of excellence and innovation.
Local employees will be local contractors from Walker County to "buy material, build infrastructure and to prepare the area for future construction," he said, "and at the same time, of course, preserving the landscape and the wildlife habitat."
Redstone Arsenal plans to use facility
Col. Guy Yelverton III of Redstone Arsenal said Redstone would take advantage of the new facility and he had been learning about the capabilities that morning.
That included something new to him - a "rocket on a rope," where a zipline could be extended from the site across to another ridge to test an attached rocket for testing in a controlled environment.
"We've been partnered with GTS for quite some time on Redstone Arsenal" through about half a dozen projects he mentioned, he said. "We've actually spoken quite a few times on how we can make our missiles and munitions better." He has shared those GTS ideas with others, as he can influence, if not pick, some of the components used.
"The great work GTS is doing is being expanded out here in the defense munition proving ground, and this will be a great opportunity," he said.
Yelverton noted in the past GTS has had to "stand in line for some of the few facilities that we have around the nation to do the ... testing that will take place out here that is incredibly important for us to understand the ... quality of our warhead" to insure that they are produced right the first time when they are manufactured.
However, he said standing in line for or leasing testing space slows the process down. Now he said there will be a location in Alabama that is close to Redstone Arsenal to do that testing locally.
"Also, I would envision that you will have customers lined up at the door from other industry partners that understand what you have to offer and they will come out of here to take advantage of these opportunities," he said. He said "silent professionals" will also use the facility for "interesting training opportunities," taking advantage of the climate.
GTS pleased with response, help from local people
Smith said the reception from the local leaders and community "has been amazing." He hosted a virtual meeting with leaders and answered many questions about what was to happen at the site.
"Those questions were very welcomed," he said, noting that the tone eventually changed to asking what they could do to help GTS. He said if that was any indication of what Walker County is about, the project would be a huge success.
"We want you to be a part of this. We didn't want it to seem we were kind of just snuck in here through the back door and we're here. All of this is possible with the partnerships of the local community," he said.
He particularly recognized Jonathan Patton of Patton Contracting and Welding and Kenneth Lamb, both of whom provided the pole barn, gravel, site prep and other needs to bring the property up to that point.
Phase I plans include two buildings by year's end
After the ceremony, Smith said the first buildings to be constructed in Phase 1 will include two buildings in the north end measuring 60 feet by 100 feet. One is for post-test forensics processing and the other has conference rooms, bathrooms and convenience areas for customers.
On the south end of the property, Smith indicated a 500,000-square-foot facility is tentatively planned for construction in a future phase to deal with "all things" in munitions development.
He noted general contractors would bid on the Phase 1 plans the next day. Construction was expected to start within a month, with expectations to move into them by the end of the calendar year, Smith said.
The testing will be for Department of Defense contractors and the military, he said.
"There is some law enforcement side on the training side, but that is segregated on another part of the property," he said. "It is primarily federal, local law enforcement on the training side and then DOD - it is all branches of the services. We will support them." Prime contractors who need to get testing will also be included.
One of those involved in the ground-breaking, Scott Turner, represented the late Don Cunard, who hired Smith and was a close friend of Turner. Cunard "would have been so excited about what we are doing now," Smith said, saying he was emotional about the gesture.