BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. (OSI) has selected Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), the U.S. defence subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace in South Korea, to modernise an existing production building at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
“BAE Systems is fully committed to modernizing the Radford Army Ammunition Plant and furthering its support of the U.S. Army’s requirements,” said John Swift, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc.
“We are excited to collaborate with Hanwha Defense USA, as they will use their proven expertise to help us integrate advanced chemical processing capabilities into a manufacturing environment.”
The company said in a press release:
“Modernising World War II-era facilities is important for national security. As BAE Systems continues to deliver vital capabilities to the warfighter, the focus on improving the safety of the process remains. BAE Systems’ legacy of modernizing while manufacturing, supported by HDUSA’s past experience in energetics facilities, will result in a state-of-the-art process for manufacturing propellants.”
BAE Systems OSI has been the operating contractor of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant since 2012, and in December 2023, received the contract to continue operating the Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Kingsport, Tennessee through 2035.
So owned by BAe being modernised by Hanwha, sounds like an excellent and innovative approach. I’ve said this elsewhere but I’ll repeat it. If the USN wants to be able to afford to enlarge their Navy they should get Japan in to modernise and run a shipyard on the West Coast.
Unlike us the US has a buy US policy backed up by massive political influence, but has merged, amalgamated industry to the point where they are tied to just a few major manufacturers.
Simplest way is to let someone else shake them up a bit.
How do you modernise the US steel trades?
Labour relations are poor and working practices belong to the 1940’s in a lot of yards. There is a reason nobody wants to work there in spite of good money and benefits.
The US steel unions make the UK unions look like Margret Thatcher! The US unions are highly corrupt and always have been.
Hi SB. Well we said the same about the car industry, then Japan came in and agreed to build new modern plants but with one Union deals as a condition. We have Toyota down the road from Derby and it has an excellent reputation for quality, efficiency and working relations / practices.
I was actually thinking about the problem they have in the shipyards for new builds and refit / maintenance.
What I find intriguing is the US and Australian approach to industry, the site and facilities are state owned but run by a contractor.
To me it makes sense as Government owns what it has invested in
I agree……but……..UK was on its knees industrially…….with high unemployment…….no job OR decent job is a self making choose.
USA is different they, like here have high employment and the unions are not interested in change only defending old turf and pork barrels…..
I spent six maddening months on secondment over there……OMG I take my hat off to anyone who manages those yards!
Intesting article from WSJ.
China’s Shipyards Are Ready for a Protracted War. America’s Aren’t.
https://www.wsj.com/world/china/chinas-shipyards-are-ready-for-a-protracted-war-americas-arent-d6f004dd