Latest news with #JohnT.Reim
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Army ammo facility to supply millions of 6.8 mm rounds annually
The Army is one step closer to producing millions of rounds each year of its newest caliber for the service's newest rifle and light machine gun combination — the Next Generation Squad Weapon. The service's Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition broke ground Feb. 5 on a 6.8 mm ammunition production facility at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri, according to an Army release. Current plans show the facility being completed by 2026 and fully operational by 2028, officials said. These units are getting the Army's newest rifle and machine gun combo The move aims to give the service its own production line for the 6.8 mm cartridge, which is the caliber the Next Generation Squad Weapon is chambered for, both in its rifle and automatic rifle configuration. The XM5 and XM250, respectively, are replacing their counterparts, the M4 carbine and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, among the close combat forces. Both are chambered in the legacy 5.56 mm cartridge. The Army is leading the project, while the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command have been closely involved in the development of the weapon and round in recent years. Lake City has been a major source of small arms ammunition for the Army and other services for decades. Historically, the plant has produced 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, .50 Browning Machine Gun, and 20 mm ammunition. During the height of the post-9/11 wars, from 2007 to 2018, the plant produced nearly 1.4 billion rounds, according to Northrop Grumman. 'It is not lost on me that victory on the battlefield begins in our production facilities,' Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, program executive officer for armaments and ammunition, said in a statement. 'Lake City has been central to our nation's ammunition production since 1941, and this new facility builds on that proud and historic legacy.' The 6.8 mm round delivers the distance and energy on target of the larger 7.62 mm round but at a lighter weight and with better accuracy, according to Army officials. Currently, rounds for the Next Generation Squad Weapon are being produced by Sig Sauer, manufacturer of both the rifle and automatic rifle variants. Ammunition manufacturer Olin Winchester will operate the new plant. The facility will span 450,000 square feet at the Missouri site, according to the Army. The operation will include manufacturing systems for cartridge cases and projectiles, quality controls, packaging and testing laboratories. According to the release, industries in the Kansas City, Missouri, region will support an estimated 90% of the work. When the facility hits operational status, it is expected to produce 385 million cases, 490 million projectiles and 385 million loading and packaging operations rounds each year. There are about a dozen units in the fielding pipeline for the Next Generation Squad Weapon in fiscal 2025. They include: From October to December, the Army Reserve's 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Shafter, Hawaii; elements of the 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; the Army's Ordnance School, at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. From January to March, the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas. From April to June, the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. From July to September, the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division with the Minnesota Army National Guard; multiple 10th Mountain Division battalions. Last October, the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division was one of the units to conduct live-fire testing of the weapon. The 'Red Curahee' soldiers ran tactical patrols after having run shooting ranges at limited visibility, according to the Army. The squad-sized elements put the weapon through its paces on terrain at their home station of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. At the time, Maj. Craig Hymel, the battalion executive officer, explained the culminating event. 'The squad live [fire] will be the last event in conjunction with the stress shoot that participants execute,' Hymel said. 'At which point, the Operational Assessment Team is going to collect and finalize all the data.'
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking Ceremony for State-of-the-Art 6.8mm Ammunition Facility at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant
CLAYTON, Mo., Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) announced that its Winchester division, in collaboration with the U.S. Army's Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) and Joint Munitions Command (JMC), celebrated the groundbreaking of the new 6.8mm Ammunition Facility at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP). This facility is part of the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) Program and represents a significant step in the Army's modernization efforts. Ken Lane, Olin President & CEO, noted during his remarks at the event, "Olin Winchester has a rich history in ammunition manufacturing excellence and support of the U.S. Military. We are proud to build on this American legacy through this opportunity to partner with the U.S. Army to construct this transformational facility and bring new capabilities to the Warfighter." The ceremony featured remarks from Ken Lane, Maj. Gen. John T. Reim, Joint Program Executive Officer for Armaments and Ammunition, and Brett Flaugher, President of Winchester. Liz Miranda, U.S. Army Material Command's (AMC) Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, Brigadier General Ronnie Anderson, Commander of the Joint Munitions Command (JMC), Staff from Congressman Sam Graves and Senator Eric Schmitt's office, and other federal, state, and local representatives were among the more than 100 special guests in attendance. "This facility will represent a significant step forward in equipping our Soldiers with the advanced munitions they need to maintain overmatch on the battlefield," noted Maj. Gen. John T. Reim. "With 90% of the work supported by industries in the Kansas City region and nearly 50 local businesses involved in the construction, this project will strengthen the defense industrial base, create well-paying jobs, and drive economic growth in the local community. Lake City has been central to our nation's ammunition production since 1941, and this facility builds on that proud and historic legacy." The 450,000 square foot advanced ammunition production facility will be capable of manufacturing all components of 6.8mm ammunition as well as finished rounds for the U.S. military, reinforcing the iconic legacy of LCAAP and its vital role in national defense. COMPANY DESCRIPTION Olin Corporation is a leading vertically integrated global manufacturer and distributor of chemical products and a leading U.S. manufacturer of ammunition. The chemical products produced include chlorine and caustic soda, vinyls, epoxies, chlorinated organics, bleach, hydrogen, and hydrochloric acid. Winchester's principal manufacturing facilities produce and distribute sporting ammunition, law enforcement ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, industrial cartridges, and clay targets. Visit for more information on Olin Corporation and to learn more about Winchester Ammunition. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on management's beliefs, certain assumptions made by management, forecasts of future results, and current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets and economy in which we and our various segments operate. The statements contained in this communication that are not statements of historical fact may include forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We have used the words "anticipate," "intend," "may," "expect," "believe," "should," "plan," "outlook," "project," "estimate," "forecast," "optimistic," "target," and variations of such words and similar expressions in this communication to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise. The payment of cash dividends is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will be determined in light of then-current conditions, including our earnings, our operations, our financial conditions, our capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. In the future, our board of directors may change our dividend policy, including the frequency or amount of any dividend, in light of then-existing conditions. 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All of our forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we consider immaterial could affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements. 2025-04 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Olin Corporation Sign in to access your portfolio
