BAE wins $74 million Army contract

The U.S. Army recently awarded BAE Systems a $74.7 million contract to design, construct and commission the Recrystallization and Slurry Coating Formulation facility at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) in Tennessee.

BAE Systems has been the plant’s operating contractor since 1999.  The plant develops explosives for commercial and military applications.

The new facility will modernize manufacturing and improve production.  In addition, it will be designed with state-of-the-art environmental and safety controls.

HSAAP will have the capability to “dewater” material in order to prepare it for further processing and will allow for energetics to be “recrystallized” to meet quality and formulation specifications.

These manufacturing processes will allow HSAAP to manufacture several products that supports the military.

“The new facility will allow HSAAP to enhance production capabilities of our current product base and will support future product requirements as needed by the U.S. Department of Defense,” Mark Hellstern, director of modernization of Ordnance Systems at BAE Systems, said. “Our modernization efforts will help ensure the long-term viability of the Holston facility in its strategic support to meet current and future demands, both domestically and abroad.”

The plant is forecasted to be completed in late 2021.

HSAAP is part of several multiyear U.S. Army-driven modernization projects.