ENABLING MODERNIZATION
EXTREME MAKEOVER
Next Generation Squad Weapon ammunition need provides an opportunity to modernize Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.
by Maj. Jamie Michel
nology different than the traditional brass cases manufactured at Lake City for the last 75 years—without disrupting current deliveries.
A
MODERNIZING A VINTAGE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT Lake City, a 1940s era government-owned, contractor-operated manufacturing facility in Independence, Missouri, is the only such plant that produces small arms ammunition. Te Army will be adding new capa- bility to manufacture the 6.8 mm next-generation family of ammunition without affecting the plant’s ability to deliver legacy 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and .50-caliber ammunition to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. Tere are numerous manufacturing process improvement opportunities when moving toward a modern manufacturing facility. Although the facility has recently undergone some equipment modernization, those investments were focused on maintaining legacy manufacturing facilities and processes to maintain readiness. To prepare for the new 6.8 mm next-generation ammunition, the Army will focus on a cutting-edge, system-level solution with emphasis on affordability, sustainability, flexibility and safety.
Modernizing its ammunition manufacturing facility will position Lake City to meet enduring requirements well into the future. Te facility and manufacturing systems will be flexible and modular to promote tran- sitioning new technologies and products into production, as well as potential to surge capacity as required. Industry best practices will increase safety and resilience, as mass energetics (explosive materials used for manufacturing bullet primers and propellant) will be separated from people and critical infrastructure by way of efficient and safe delivery systems. Modern energetic delivery systems reduce, and in some cases elim- inate, the possibility of explosion and minimize the risk of fire.
CULTURAL CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING Next-generation ammunition will consist of bullets that increase ballistic and terminal performance while incorporating lightweight case technologies. Te bullet and case technologies currently in testing use poly- mers or combinations of brass and stainless steel that have never before been mass produced. Te lightweight technologies will minimize additional weight associated with legacy ammunition, but the existing Lake City manufacturing systems are not yet capable of manufacturing these new cases.
mong the Army’s modernization efforts is the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW), which is scheduled to begin fielding in fiscal year 2022. Te 6.8 mm small caliber ammunition will be produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Te challenge will be to quickly add new manufacturing capabilities—a new caliber of ammunition with unique shell case tech-
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