BAE Systems has awarded Parsons Corporation a contract to design a manufacturing facility at the US Army’s Radford Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) in Virginia.
The $15.4-million deal is part of BAE and the Pentagon’s “government-owned contractor-operated” initiative to sustain and upgrade the shell factory inaugurated during the Second World War.
For the agreement, Parsons will prepare initial design packages to modernize the RFAAP’s Alternate Nitrate Ester Manufacturing Facility used for the plant’s explosives-related chemical processes.
BAE’s Ordnance Systems Inc. (OSI) segment is leading the site’s overall upgrades. Work focuses on enhanced safety, increased operational efficiency, and other environmental improvements.
“BAE Systems is strongly engaged in supporting the US Army in modernizing the Radford Army Ammunition Plant,” BAE Systems OSI Vice President John Swift stated. “Our continued collaboration with Parsons Corporation reinforces our commitment to deliver the Army’s vision for readiness.”
Parsons is currently working on a parallel effort at RFAAP which covers design, obtaining permits for, and delivery of an Energetic Waste Incinerator/Contaminated Waste Processor as the plant’s open-burning alternative.
“Together with BAE Systems, we will leverage our experience to advance the Army’s efforts to modernize the organic industrial base,” Parsons Engineered Systems President Jon Moretta remarked about the latest contract.
“This important project will add to the storied history of service with which Radford Army Ammunition Plant has provided our nation for more than 80 years and will help ensure the plant remains ready to support the warfighter.”
The announcement follows BAE’s partnership with Hanwha Defense USA in April to construct an energetics-associated building at RFAAP.