U.S. Army awards contract for domestic TNT production

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. - The U.S. Army's Joint Program Executive Office Armaments & Ammunition and U.S. Army Contracting Command - Rock Island have awarded a contract action with a ceiling of $435 million to REPKON USA - Defense LLC to design, build and commission a TNT production facility in Graham, Kentucky. The contract is being executed as a sole-source undefinitized contract action under the authority of Section 3204(a)(7) of Title 10, United States Code (10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(7)), and Subsection 1244(a)(2) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

TNT is essential for various military applications such as ammunition, bombs and grenades, and serves as the primary explosive fill for 155 mm artillery shells. This award will reestablish TNT production swiftly and at scale on U.S. soil for the first time in decades.

"This is a major step forward in rebuilding our industrial base and ensuring we have the critical capabilities to support our warfighters," said Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology. "Reshoring TNT production gives us the ability to control and secure our supply chain for this vital component, especially in an era of increasing global challenges."

Establishing a domestic TNT production capability is vital for national defense, as the current supply chain is entirely reliant on overseas sources. This accelerated timeline supports the Army's goal of rapidly replenishing its critical munitions inventory and maintaining readiness for future conflicts.

Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition, emphasized the strategic importance of this project.

"This new state-of-the-art facility is essential to the JPEO A&A's mission to develop, procure and field safe, reliable and lethal munitions to our joint warfighters and international partners," said Reim. "This project will also further strengthen our defense industrial base, enabling munitions production at speed and scale."

This award is part of JPEO A&A's efforts to address potential supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance national security by securing uninterrupted access to crucial materials. By reshoring essential resources like rare earth minerals, chemicals and electronics, the Army seeks to reinforce its defense industrial base against global uncertainties.

For more information, please contact Mr. Jamal Beck at [email protected].