McALESTER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT, Okla. -- Air Force and Army officials met here recently to discuss munitions prioritization and an investment that will increase bomb production and capacity.
With Air Force bomb orders increasing, Scott Cole from the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force-International Affairs (SAF/IA), made his first visit to MCAAP to get a better understanding of how U.S. government, direct commercial sales and foreign military sales orders are racked and stacked.
He also wanted to learn how SAF/IA's $17.1 million investment in a new production line will increase bomb production and capacity, and when those munitions will roll off the line.
Col. Sean M. Herron, commander, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, assured Cole the organic base will support DCS and FMS orders, and that it will support their requirements.
"From our perspective, that's a U.S. pilot who doesn't have to take off," he said. "Every one of these bombs that are sold to allies is a U.S. plane that is not put in jeopardy. So we want to support DCS, FMS and U.S. government work all at the same time."
During a working lunch, Steve Cox, director of Engineering and Public Works, gave an overview of the A-Line West investment, which will activate a new production line that has been dormant since the Korean War.
Once it's operational, the dedicated Air Force production line, will enable the plant to produce everything from Tritonal, or IM-filled 250-pound, to 2,000-pound bombs. It will also expand production and capacity, said John Ross, director of MCAAP's Ammunition Operations Directorate.
"Our goal is, obviously, to increase load, assembly and pack production," said Chuck Seidel, the munitions subject matter expert contractor working for the Munitions Sustainment Division at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
While increasing production and capacity is important, Cole reiterated his need for Tritonal-filled bombs to fill FMS orders.
"The MK 81 is going to be important to me," he said. "So your business is good and it will only get better."
The visit also included a walking tour of B-Line East, where the 2,000-pound insensitive munition is manufactured and B-Line West where Tritonal-filled munitions are loaded, assembled and packed for DCS, FMS and U.S. government orders.
"I'm completely impressed and very much looking forward to where this partnership goes," Cole said. "It's far exceeded our expectations."
MCAAP is one of 14 installations of the Joint Munitions Command and one of 23 organic industrial base facilities under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.
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