Letterkenny Munitions Center surpasses training rocket production milestone

By Ms. Natasia Kenosky (AMC)January 2, 2019

The Letterkenny Munitions Center team recently produced the 500th LCRRPR pod at LEMC.
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Letterkenny Munitions Center recently produced the 500th LCRRPR pod at LEMC.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- In November 2018, Letterkenny Munitions Center produced its 500th Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket pod. This certified pod will be shipped to a U.S. Army unit to ensure the unit receives hands-on training with precision-guided munitions.

LEMC produces LCRRPRs, a training rocket which satisfies Army and Marine Corps annual training requirements, from production concept through full-rate production. Since 2013, production requirements have increased annually at LEMC.

This is LEMC's second LCRRPR milestone for 2018. Earlier this year, LEMC began full-rate production, which boosts additional output to the Army and Marine Corps by more than 60 percent, and provides the rockets at best value to the Warfighter and U.S. taxpayer, with a more than 50 percent cost savings, compared to available commercial sources.

The LCRRPR provides PGM training opportunities, delivering munitions readiness to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. LEMC's efforts directly impact warfighting readiness as Soldiers train on tasks, which supports the National Defense Strategy line of effort, "Build a more lethal force", and aligns with the Chief of Staff of the Army's top Army modernization priority, Long-Range Precision Fires.

LEMC uses rocket motors that would otherwise be destroyed, and repurposes them into vital PGM training assets. The resulting practice rocket gives units the necessary training and certification required to correctly and safely operate PGMs, such as Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, in the field.

During build-up operations, LEMC integrates inert warheads, as well as Crane Army Ammunition Activity-supplied certified reworked ignitors. LEMC's continuous process improvement program has driven the cost down below $30,000 per pod and has the potential to see costs fall even lower, maturing various productivity efforts. All cost savings are passed on to the services, which allow units to purchase additional readiness with available funding.

"There is significant opportunity to continue to leverage the Organic Industrial Base of the Department of Defense to deliver warfighting readiness supporting modernization efforts at a substantial cost savings," said Lt. Col. Ignatowski. "Targeted investment to modernize our capabilities within the precision guided munitions arena yields significant savings for tactical units, accelerates delivery of assets to the warfighter, ensures sustainment of modernized military capability, as well as demonstrates best value for the U.S. taxpayer."

LEMC is located on Letterkenny Army Depot and conducts regional and global distribution of munitions, provides missile maintenance, and conducts demilitarization of munitions for the U.S. Army in support of Joint Forces and international partner nations.

Related Links:

Letterkenny Munitions Center's homepage