Login
iscover
The US Department of Defense has announced more than US$192.5 million to establish domestic manufacturing capabilities for chemicals critical to defence.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Seven awards were announced through the Defense Production Act Investments Program by the US DOD on 1 February.
Each award is expected to establish national capacity of critical chemicals by the end of 2027, strengthen America’s supply chains, and limit foreign dependence for the defence industrial base.
The chemicals are envisioned to have multiple applications in the commercial sector including pharmaceuticals, consumer products, agriculture, automotive, and energy.
“These critical chemical investments show the National Defense Industrial Strategy in action to ensure resilient supply chains and promote economic deterrence,” according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Dr Laura Taylor-Kale.
“The awards will result in the domestic production of military grade chemicals by establishing, expanding, and modernising the manufacturing capacity of 22 critical chemicals used in defence systems, including non-energetic chemicals and precursors for both energetic and non-energetic chemicals.”
Companies receiving an award have demonstrated the ability to meet the minimum required production amounts of one or more of these chemicals using flexible, efficient, modern, and environmentally responsible manufacturing practices.
The seven awards include a $49.6 million contract to establish production of material used for the protection of human lives, ammunition packaging, and other defence systems by CoorsTek.
GOEX/Estes Energetics was awarded a $13.0 million contract to establish production of seven oxidisers used in energetic formulations and a muzzle suppressant.
Lacamas Laboratories was awarded an $86.2 million contract to establish production of two precursors of energetics, two precursors of non-energetics, and three stabilisers/burning rate moderators.
Magrathea Metals was awarded a $19.6 million contract to establish domestic production of magnesium, a critical precursor in the production of metals and semi-metals essential to defence systems, as well as foundry and component forming.
METSS Corporation was awarded a $14.0 million contract to establish domestic production of eight oxidisers used in energetic formulations and a muzzle suppressant.
Powdermet Inc was awarded a $1.9 million contract to establish domestic production of two critical metals used in energetic formulations for ignition and source of fuel.
Synthio Chemicals Inc was awarded an $8.2 million contract to establish domestic production of three stabilisers/burning rate moderators and two smoke dyes.
