MESQUITE, Texas – The U.S. Army’s Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition hosted an opening ceremony for the Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility, a new modular metal parts facility in Mesquite, Texas, on Wednesday, May 29.
“This plant is an important example of how we are modernizing our World War II-era organic industrial base. The Army is spending more than a billion dollars every year to make these critical improvements,” said Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth. “We are building new production lines across the country, and we are expanding our contracts with existing production facilities to increase their production speed and capacity. And we couldn’t increase our production rates without the skilled expertise of the Americans who work in these arsenals and facilities around the country. Each time I visit a plant, I am struck by the dedication, patriotism and pride of the workers I meet, and I know that here in Mesquite, it won’t be any different. The work done in these production facilities contributes directly to our nation’s defense and makes us stronger.”
The state-of-the-art facility, which will be operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, will feature high-volume production capabilities for large-caliber metal parts and is equipped with long-stroke, high-tonnage forging capabilities. The facility’s 155 mm metal parts production lines also meet Army modernization goals by incorporating high levels of automation, modern manufacturing practices, and digital-data-capture ability. It will offer the flexibility to produce a variety of metal parts ranging from 60 mm to 155 mm, with minimal changeover requirements.
The UAPL is part of the Army’s modernization plan to bring the industrial base into the 21st century. Current and future Army readiness requires modernization efforts that leverage new technologies, advanced manufacturing equipment and processes, and surge capabilities to enable production at scale. These efforts will significantly strengthen U.S. munition production capabilities and will serve as a credible deterrent to adversaries.
Funding for the UAPL stems from the fiscal 2022 and 2023 congressional supplementals and reprogramming of funds within the Defense Department. Under a package of contracts awarded by the Army worth $576 million, GD-OTS designed and constructed the facility, to include the procurement, transportation, installation and commissioning. Upon completion, the Army will assume ownership of the capital equipment, subsequently leasing it back to GD-OTS through a government-furnished materiel agreement. The new facility underscores the Army's and industry's commitment to bolstering the defense industrial base and maintaining the readiness of our armed forces.
For more information on the Mesquite Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility, please contact the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition Public Affairs Office at [email protected].
Social Sharing