▶ 0:18:30I'll turn the microphone on so that more people can hear me. And I want to welcome our witnesses here today. In the interest of time, I apologize about trying to uh trying to find uh too many different ways to do things in too small amount of time. So that's uh see seems seems to be the world we live in. But I'm going to dispense with my opening remarks and yield to our ranking member, Mr. Courtney, and uh turn to him. Great. Thank you, uh, Mr.
▶ 0:18:56Chairman, and thank you uh to the witnesses uh and also for your time yesterday where uh the two of us had a chance to catch up on um this this afternoon's uh testimony. Uh again, I'm here um just to pinch head for Don Norcross who um is on the mend and hopefully uh he'll be back in the saddle by the end of this month. And um and I also will uh submit his statement for the record.
▶ 0:19:21I would just note though that he did really want to um make sure that we don't overlook the issue of uh workplace safety in terms of you know again this enterprise you know that uh we're definitely moving uh quickly to to address. And so um you know General Duncan you know if you have any comments in terms of you know addressing that you know that would be um I think much appreciated for Mr. Norcross's uh interest who I'm sure is listening in as we're here today.
▶ 0:19:51So with that, I'll yield back. Thank you, Mr. Courtney. I'm going to go to our witnesses now and whatever whatever order you all like to begin. Mr. Ronnie, we can start with you. Thank you, Chairman Whittman. Um Chairman Whitman, Representative Courtney, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify alongside representatives from the Army's munitions enterprise.
▶ 0:20:13Secretary Hegsth has provided the department a clear mandate to rebuild our military by matching capabilities to threats and reestablished deterrence. Revitalizing the defense industrial base is foundational to both imperatives, especially when it comes to munitions production and sustainment. Years of inconsistent procurements and reduced or idle production lines have negatively impacted the US munitions industrial base.
▶ 0:20:41Select munitions inventories are depleted and current production capacity is not sized to meet increased demand. As a critical strategic capability, the department is aggressively working to address these challenges and quickly increase US munitions stocks.
▶ 0:20:59The department uses the munitions requirement process to estimate munitions needs for operational plans to deter adversaries and support training, testing, and security This process provides a strategic demand signal that guides the department's Monthly readiness and inventory health assessments identify munitions below required inventory levels and mismatches between usage and planned production.
▶ 0:21:27Likewise, the department uses the munitions readiness initiative analytic tools to determine where we can leverage sustainment and maintenance capabilities to repair, reset, or extend the shelf life of munitions. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that modern conflicts can consume munitions at rates far beyond peaceime forecasts.
▶ 0:21:48The ability of the industrial base to surge represents a strategic deterrent and reconstitution timelines are now a metric of combat credibility. Sufficient capacity to surge and reconstitute munitions inventories must be treated as a core defense capability in the organic and commercial components of the industrial base.
▶ 0:22:10The administration is prioritizing this critical capability area and we appreciate con Congress's focus on munitions in the budget reconciliation process. The department has also established a munitions war room that with the forthcoming joint energetics transition office or jetto works to expedite the qualification scale up facilitization and adoption of new technology for energetics components and long lead time items.
▶ 0:22:39While we complete formal stamina of the Jetto, the work has already started to develop and scale production of new energetic materials for munitions critical to operations in the Indo-Pacific, among other efforts. The department appreciates Congress's leadership in directing the establishment of the Jetto to reduce siloed efforts, unify work streams, increase focus, and enable cross department efficiency.
▶ 0:23:05The department also appreciates Congress granting the authority for multi-year procurements for critical munitions, which foster market stability and allow suppliers to rightsize production capacity to meet demand. Consistent procurement by the military services is crucial to maximizing the return on investment across the munitions industrial base. Ultimately, it's better to buy now and use later than wait for a crisis and rely on intermittent investments to rapidly serge production. and capability.
▶ 0:23:35It's also important that the department improves its ability to inspect, test, maintain, and perform depo level repairs of existing munitions. This requires securing the necessary technical data to ensure we have the maintenance capabilities to meet our core logistics responsibility. While much work remains, the department and defense industrial-based providers are taking decisive action in accordance with the secretary's direction to overcome munitions production challenges and increase stock piles.
▶ 0:24:05In closing, the department thanks Congress for its continued partnership. I look forward to your questions. Thank you, Mr. Moran. Now, we'll go to Mr. Graano. Chairman Whitman, Ranking Member Courtney, and distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today and testify. I have the honor to serve as the director of the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armament Center.
▶ 0:24:31The Army's premier research and engineering institution for armaments and lethality located at Pikatini Arsenal, New Jersey. Energetic materials including explosives, propellants, powernics are critical in ensuring our soldiers and the joint war fighter have the most advanced, reliable and dominant weapon systems in the world.
▶ 0:24:51The army along with our partners across the joint services and the department of energy is conducting critical research and development on energetic materials and methods for the manufacturer and These efforts are producing promising technologies such as next generation explosive fills, advanced initiation systems, and improved processing techniques that increase range, survivability, and lethality, while also improving safety, affordability, and efficiency,
▶ 0:25:21leading to superior lethal capabilities for our soldiers, which are enabled by the men and women who make up the munitions organic industrial base. We're building upon a legacy of demonstrated improvements that are making a difference for our joint warf fighters. Army developed energetics like the IMX series of explosives saved lives in Iraq and Afghanistan by replacing sensitive energetics with safer, more effective alternatives.
▶ 0:25:46In contrast, the war in Ukraine has shown the devastating consequences of relying on unstable fills, a vulnerability our adversaries can't afford and we won't accept. Looking ahead, we're supporting the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff's vision for transformation in contact and concept driven by optimizing ingredients like CL20 and applying emerging technologies from AI and robotics to additive manufacturing to unlock energetic driven weapon system performance that was previously
▶ 0:26:18These innovations aren't just enhancing our technical edge. They're making the production of our munition safer for our workers, more affordable for the taxpayer, more agile in response to demand, and more resilient to supply chain and environmental disruptions. Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the subcommittee, energetics are an important strategic asset. With your continued support, we're ready to lead the Army and the Joint Force into the next era of energetics innovation, ensuring our soldiers are unmatched on the battlefield now and in the future.
▶ 0:26:48Thank you, and I look forward to your questions. Thank you, Mr. Croano. Now we'll go to Major General Ree, Chairman Whitman, Representative Courtney, distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I serve as the joint program executive officer for armaments and ammunition and the commanding general of Pikatini Arsenal in the great state of New Jersey. For more than a century, Pikatini Arsenal has stood as a symbol of technological innovation and strategic significance.
▶ 0:27:19Today, our team of military and civilian professionals remain laser focused on developing technologies and capabilities that maintain our nation's superiority and overmatch against any potential adversary. Our mission at Pikatini Arsenal is to develop and field safe, reliable, and lethal armaments and ammunition at both speed and scale and to give our joint war fighters and international partners the capabilities they need to deter aggression worldwide.
▶ 0:27:47and have called upon the decisive tools to fight and win our nation's wars. The Army is very appreciative of the authorities and resources provided by Congress to assist our efforts in rebuilding the arsenal of democracy and in strengthening our defense industrial base for the challenges that lie ahead. The US Defense Industrial Base has not seen this level investment in new or expanded facilities for generations.
▶ 0:28:13In the last two fiscal years, thanks to the support and confidence of the US Congress and the Department of Defense, the Army has invested $4.9 billion to build new production lines and add new capacity and resiliency to our supply chains across the country. In parallel, we are expanding and modernizing existing facilities to increase speed, flexibility, and capacity.
▶ 0:28:37The goal is to implement 21st century production capabilities that can generate the ammunition stockpiles necessary to sustain our national defense, you know, during a surge time environment. As an example, in 2022, we were producing just 14,000 rounds of 155 artillery projectiles per month. Today, those same facilities have more than doubled their production. We expect to see further capacity increases to 100,000 per month with the uh new facility investments that are nearing completion.
▶ 0:29:08These new facilities and production lines are also equipped to produce the munitions that incorporate innovations at the round level. So, for example, extended range artillery that can reach deeper into enemy territory with greater precision. 155 cannon cargo artillery that can deliver operations enabling payloads in contested environments.
▶ 0:29:29proximity fuse technologies for weapon systems that counter the use of drones by our adversaries and the family of 6.8 millimeter ammunition that enhances the lethality of the nextG squad weapon systems. We have also taken steps to secure our supply chains. We like to say from the ground to the round, identifying and mitigating the risks that may threaten our ability to produce munitions at scale.
▶ 0:29:53For example, we've leveraged more than $370 million in Defense Production Act Title 3 funded projects to establish or expand domestic sources for critical munitions components like antimony sulfide, which is essential to conventional munition production.
▶ 0:30:09It is also important to note that the requisite increases in the size and diversity of our stockpiles would not be possible without the skilled expertise of the great Americans, the scientists, the engineers, and the technicians who work in our arsenals and the munition facilities around the country. Their expertise and passion fuel our progress and ensure the United States Army and the joint force remain the most lethal and technologically advanced force in the world.
▶ 0:30:37As we work together to prepare for what the future may bring, we are sending a clear message to any would-be adversary that the United States along with its allies stands ready to deter any aggression. Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the subcommittee. We appreciate your continued and steadfast support to our soldiers, our civilians, and our families. I look forward to your Major General Ree, thank you. We'll now go to Brigier General Duncan. I use the microphone.
▶ 0:31:07Good afternoon, Chairman Whitman, Representative Courtney, distinguished members of the tactical and the land forces subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to testify here today to discuss the Army's organic industrial base and joint munitions command. The Army's OIB is crucial to military readiness and national security. It consists of government-owned and operated facilities that produce, maintain, and repair essential military equipment from weapon systems to vehicles and ammunition.
▶ 0:31:34The OIB ensures DoD can meet their joint force demands in war and peace. I recently took command of Joint Munitions Command at Rock Island Arsenal, which is an important part of the US Army's logistics and sustainment operation. Joint Munitions Command provides the joint force with ready, reliable, lethal munitions at the speed of war, sustaining global readiness.
▶ 0:31:56JMC and its 18 OIB installations across the nation support the production, storage, distribution, and demilitarization of JMC and its government-owned and operated installations recently demonstrated their value when faced with short time frames and high high volume demands in support of pre presidential draw downs. These sites demonstrated extraordinary endurance, adaptability, and logistic strength.
▶ 0:32:23Their ability to surge operations and push past previous outload records reflected an infrastructure that is designed to deliver in critical situations. Even as they provided sustained support for regional conflict, they upheld critical inventory levels necessary for ongoing training, proving that these facilities remain the foundation of the joint force readiness and strategic flexibility. Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to today's discussion. General Duncan, thank you so much.
▶ 0:32:53I want to thank our witnesses and uh we'll begin with some questions here. I want to um point to the language in the NDAA in FY24 that established the direction to the department to form a joint energetics transition office.
▶ 0:33:13Uh and the reason being is because there was lack of central authority and strategy for what we were doing to modernize our weapon systems based on uh not just uh emerging technology within energetics but just based on on existing technology that could better our weapon systems with more range and lethality. uh reports were due to Congress in at the one-year mark and two-year mark and to this point we received very limited communications back from Congress.
▶ 0:33:43Another part of that FY24 NDAA was a requirement to look at again those modern uh chemistry elements of our weapon systems that is compounds like CL20 which stands for China Lake which we developed we developed here and our adversaries use that as their metric and we use a metric that goes back to chemistry on weapons back to the 1940s.
▶ 0:34:07Uh we mandated a pilot program to integrate CL20 into selected weapon systems to to do some to do some testing to figure out you know what opportunities are there. How can we address the issue with range and lethality? We are getting outstates as the word goes and that means their weapon systems go farther and they're more deadly than ours.
▶ 0:34:30uh to me when we've developed the technology there for us to do that and our adversaries are using that as their metric that's kind of a wakeup call for us. So you know we haven't seen anything of substance going on with with doing that work on CL20. So Mr. Mr. Marani, I wanted to just to get from you. Um, where are we in the in the process of establishing the joint energetics transition office, better known as Jedto? Uh, and do you have a date as to when we can expect the office to be operational?
▶ 0:35:01Um, and can you commit today? And I want to hear from you on that. Uh, the establishment of Jetto in compliance with the congressional requirements that we put in the uh fisc year 24 National Defense Authorization Act. Yes, sir. Thank you for that question. So, I'll I'll start with uh guilty is charged and uh not standing it up on time. We uh recognize that we're late in meeting those congressional reporting requirements.
▶ 0:35:28So, following our office call, I actually went back to the Pentagon and started knocking on some E-ring doors to get the status at least of the first of the reporting requirements. So, uh that is pending with the deputy secretary right now. Yeah. Um, so I also want to commit to standing it up in accordance with the law. Um, and I want to also thank you for the language and the direction.
▶ 0:35:52Quite frankly, this kind of language and top level direction helps uh, as I mentioned in my opening comments, you know, break down some of the silos across the department, helps us uh, with with the collaboration with our partners. Um, as I mentioned, work is ongoing right now. Uh you mentioned CL20 uh showing some great promise there. Uh that's that's a pretty pretty hot burn that is going to give us some range.
▶ 0:36:18Um we have our joint production acceleration cell who is working munitions right now. Um between munitions and uh critical minerals. Those two things are I'll say the conversations I have the most with the deputy secretary. And you have his his attention his personal attention on both of these. Um so going forward uh we will get you uh uh better information to meet the reporting requirements so you understand where we are in the development.
▶ 0:36:49Uh we are prioritizing this uh and I look forward to to briefing you in the future on the status. Very good. Thank you Mr. Morani. Mr. Graano I wanted to talk a little more about the chemistry of energetics. You know the United States through the years has put a lot of focus on precision. So we've done a pretty good job with seekers. If we if if we want to get on target, we know how to get on target.
▶ 0:37:12The challenge is if the targets farther away or our areas of the weapons engagement zone, better known as the WES, gets bigger and bigger and bigger from our adversaries, that creates a challenge for us. And it really is a physics and chemistry challenge. Uh we know that novel energetics, things like CL20 provide a great opportunity for us to be able to close that gap. Uh, can you give me some idea about where we are with CL20 and integrating that into munitions?
▶ 0:37:40And remember the FY24 NDAA said two things. It said, let's take three existing weapons platforms and look at integrating CL20 into those so we're not reinventing the wheel. Let's figure out we can do a lot of learning there. And then to look at novel energetics for every new weapon systems. And as our weapons magazines begin to get drawn down with existing weapons like stingers and javelins and and we know there's certain elements of those those platforms that are good, you know, stinger's got a great seeker on it.
▶ 0:38:11Range and lethality we could probably do better. So give me your perspective about where we are today with modernization of our weapon system both existing and what we're looking at on newer weapon systems in replacement as we're looking at weapons magazines based on novel energetics like CL20.
▶ 0:38:31Thank you for that question and for uh your your interest in making sure that our war fighters have the best possible weapons and we share that interest and we work diligently every day to make sure that we put the most advanced capabilities into our soldiers hands. Regarding Seal 20 specifically so there has been ongoing work with that for a number of years now as you know it was discovered in about 18 years ago or so and we've been developing it ever since. One of the problems has been that the materials were not readily available and it was very cost ineffective.
▶ 0:39:00So since then we've made some recent improvements and we were able to create formulations to be able to produce it at a much more economical rate and we're looking at now scaling up production here which will make it more available for researchers as well as for weapon systems developers to put it into their end systems. Um I just want you to also understand that putting CL20 in just doesn't magically make everything better. So system has to be redesigned around it. Right? So if you put CL20 pure into a 155 round, you'd create dust and there'd be no lethality. Right?
▶ 0:39:28So you have to purposely redesign existing systems to take advantage of the greater capability that it has. And the biggest benefit there in the most cases is that you can get the same performance with a smaller warhead which then allows you to get further range. Yes. Right. So so those are the the huge benefits that we have. The army's looking at incorporating into a number of different systems we have right now a couple different types of warheads for for penetration for blast rag and and other ways to reduce the warheads and get longer range. So we are actively working a number of different systems to get those deployed uh as we speak. That's great.
▶ 0:39:58Well, thanks. Yeah, I know it's I know it's a it's a complex uh solution that takes you know all the different elements there, the chemistry, the physics and the weapons technology to uh take advantage of that. But you know, we've we've uh in the words of the immortal jury read, we got a long ways to go and a short time to get there in relation to what our adversaries can do. So with that, Mr. Courtney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:40:23So, uh, General Ree, in your remarks, you mentioned, um, the Defense Production Act, Title 3 is sort of one of the tools that, um, again, this kind of rapid, uh, shift that's happening, um, in terms of, you know, people's portfolio that are testifying here today. Um, again, that's a law that goes back to the Korean War and, um, sometimes it sort of disappears from view and certainly kind of reemerge.
▶ 0:40:50Can you talk a little bit about just sort of the how the mechanics and gymnastics of of using the defense production act and how that can accelerate um you know an industrialbased uh uh initiative like Appreciate that question representative Courtney. Um so our our focus has been on readiness here.
▶ 0:41:12Um Ukraine has really highlighted you know the significant demand and um you know I'd mentioned also the investments that are being made in infrastructure and our army ammunition plants but that you know that's insufficient. You know supply chains matter and what we quickly learned is um a lot of the key precursors a lot of the key materials that we need to produce ammunition is not manufactured here in the US.
▶ 0:41:38And so as we looked at this you know in terms of um you know time horizons you know we needed to produce munitions now and so initially we were looking at international sourcing you know friendly sourcing where we could but in parallel you know uh you know in terms of national security and kind of long-term strategy is hey we need to make those investments here in the US and so for example um steel you know so we use a specialty steel alloys and uh you know with the ramp up with 155 artillery
▶ 0:42:09in in in particular um you we've made major investments in US steel companies to uh rapidly surge you know capability u increase their capacity and infrastructure um that has benefits not only to the conventional ammunition portfolio but will also benefit you know our rocket and missile portfolios it'll benefit you know our armored um platforms you know going forward that leverage you know the same specialty steel alloys so in terms of the investments Um I mean
▶ 0:42:39there are investments that the government right is making in terms of um again these different sort of uh companies or firms that you know you think can um satisfy the requirements and does that sort of happen through the army does that happen through um you know the an under secretary um again just a I think it's an opportunity to sort of you know be an educatable moment teachable moment in terms of just uh this law.
▶ 0:43:08So this has been a great authority for us and we work hand inand with our OSD teammates to um um submit our requirements and then that is prioritized. You know another great example is antimony sulfide that's in all our primer since that touches about twothirds of our conventional ammunition portfolio. Um recently you know that was only adversary sourced you know and they have weaponized you know the supply chain against us.
▶ 0:43:34We're very fortunate that um you know we had stockpile inventory of antimony sulfide that we've um been a able to leverage and that bought us time and space to also qualify a second source another international source. But in parallel we leverage the DPA title 3 to make investments in a mine in Idaho right to work through the engineering analysis some of the environmental permitting requirements.
▶ 0:43:59We've recently received a favorable record of decision to allow us to reopen a mine and produce that critical, you know, precursor material that's in all of our conventional ammunition. Well, thank you. I mean, again, I think it's um it's nice to hear, you know, um that there's real results that are happening from a program that um again can move quickly because I mean that's kind of the name of the game right now uh in terms of just our industrial base. So, uh General Duncan, I mentioned at the outset that Mr.
▶ 0:44:27Norcross, you know, had great interest in terms of just the issue of workplace safety. Obviously, we're dealing with um you know, factories and and um uh operations and enterprises where there is some risk. So, maybe you can u you know, talk about that a little bit. Sure. Congressman Courtney, appreciate and uh on behalf of uh Congressman Norcross, appreciate the concern for our workforce. Our people are our most important asset.
▶ 0:44:54And as you said, it's plants and and facilities and processes and things, but when you add that the fact that we're producing explosives and munitions, it's even more inherently dangerous. So every safety is worked into everything we do.
▶ 0:45:08Not just in my job as the day-to-day overseer of daily operations, ensuring people have the right protective equipment and and are following the procedures, but the even to the design of the buildings and the facilities that we have so that we use triedand-true methods that we've used for decades to make sure that humans are the risk to humans is mitigated uh in our processes that we have. No matter how much you prepare, you always can accidents do occur.
▶ 0:45:33But when those occur, we want to make sure we do everything possible to mitigate risk to our workforce and the lives of the people all the way even to where these facilities are located within a geographic area to make sure that also the public is protected as well. Thanks for that question. Thank you. Yield back. Thank you, Mr. Courtney. We'll now go to Mr. Amen. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:45:56um the topic of energetics and um you I I became we became um somewhat interested in it uh on this topic uh probably a couple years ago on select China committee uh we talked about this. So what is the base energetic that the United States What compound? The bulk of our explosives energetics are RDX and HMX based.
▶ 0:46:27And when were they developed? Oh, very long time ago. What is the base energetics that China Currently, they're using more and more of CL20 as their base energetic. So, they've gone through the testing. They've gone through they've gone through the things that we are starting to do and they've determined that that's the energetic that they're using.
▶ 0:46:48And so, our war fighter now may be at a uh their missiles may go farther, their rounds may go farther, their rounds may be more lethal than ours. And this thing CL20 was developed in the United States and we're now just starting to look at Um one thing that um that really kind of irks me um is that Congress asked um mandated actually the the creation of the Joint Energetics
▶ 0:47:18Transition Office two years ago. Is there a reason why um why the defense department ignored us for two years? Mr. Moreni, I guess you're new, right? You're new in the job. Are you with the administration? You've been here for Have you been here for a while? Are you new? So, I'm I'm acting in the capacity of uh the assistant secretary of defense for sustainment. Um the office that would actually um implement that is not my office.
▶ 0:47:45Um but I again in my comments I made uh we have not been idle. We've had a joint production acceleration cell that has been um engaged at uh looking deep into munition supply chains. Uh identifying those subcomponents where we have constraints. Uh we as you heard with our DPA uh title 3 investments also managed through our industrial-based policy team.
▶ 0:48:13We've invest in invested uh I hate to cut you off but I but we mandated that you put a joint yes energetics transition office. Did you establish one? We have not established that. Okay. We did that we did that two years ago. Yes sir you did. Okay. So why hasn't it been done? Yeah. I can't speak to why the office who was assigned to do that hasn't I I know we were late in establishing it.
▶ 0:48:40We had a transition which is exacerbating uh the ability to be late but we have elements that are going to be incorporated into what that office looks like going forward. Uh we will establish it and I and I took the action and committing to making sure that we are going to establish it in accordance with the law but we've not was there was there resistance to establishing this this office? Not to my knowledge that there was any resistance. So so it's something that we asked we mandated two years ago.
▶ 0:49:09There's no resistance to it supposedly, right? And it's taken two years to to it hasn't been established yet, so it's more than two years to establish it. Do you think that maybe we should be a little upset up here? I understand you're you're upset and frustrated. Uh, as a sustainer, I am upset and frustrated as well. Um, but back to my point about not being idle. We've invested 1.9 billion in 155 industrial expansion.
▶ 0:49:35We're we're investing in pack 3 MSC to increase capacity from 550 rounds a year to se to 650 uh with with the projection to go even higher. Uh we've invested in gimlers and javelins um across our industrial base analysis and sustainment program. We've invested in hypersonics, chemical production, solid rocket motors, gas turbine engines, and we've done that also with DPA title 3.
▶ 0:50:03While we haven't fully established this office, we have not been idle in making sure that munitions are a priority uh for this administration and ensuring that we can um increase the health of the shelf of our I only have five minutes so I can't I really you know I understand. Okay. Um the Russians, the Chinese have active working hypersonic missiles. Uh do we? Yes, we do. We do. Okay.
▶ 0:50:33Um, but we're pretty far. We're behind the Russians and the Chinese on in that technology. Are we behind or are we equal or are we ahead? What are I mean? Because I'm hearing that we're they they're ahead of us with hypersonics. Well, in an open form like this, I cannot comment. Fair enough. Then don't comment. Okay. F my final thing is on steel um the special steel that that we we required. Who were we buying it from before? So we were we had a single point of failure here in the US.
▶ 0:51:03Um but as as I you know stated in my opening remarks we were only producing at 14,000 rounds per month as we you know scale to 100,000. There was insufficient capacity there to meet that demand. And so we were able to leverage those DPA title 3 funds to you know add a new bloom a blooming furnace there expand infrastructure have benefits.
▶ 0:51:26Uh my I can't look I guess look I'm I'm over but but uh it wasn't from an from an external source was it or was it a US source? So that was a single source here within the US. Okay. Thank you very much and I'll yield back. Thank you Mr. Menz and then I go to Mr. Thank you Chairman Whitman. Um good afternoon and welcome to all of our witnesses. I'm excited to have you all here. I'm especially proud to have a neighbor of mine testifying for our subcommittee.
▶ 0:51:55Uh, you don't have to be from the Quad Cities to be a Quad Citizen. So, welcome, Brigadier General Duncan, and thank you for commanding Joint Munitions Command at the Rock Island Arsenal, what we in the Quad Cities call the Rock. I'm really excited that you'll be able to speak on behalf of our own neighbors who are working to support our munitions industrial base every day.
▶ 0:52:18And while I'm glad to see the industry uh the administration place an emphasis on munitions, I do have concerns about the army transformation initiative and what the integration of army sustainment command and joint munitions command really looks like. The bottom line, we cannot jeopardize our readiness and we cannot afford to lose the people who who best know how to scale our munitions. So to Mr.
▶ 0:52:48Morani, uh you've worked in sustainment for a long time and um we're hearing as much as 57% uh of JMC's workforce at Rock Island could be slashed. With the loss of that expertise, do you think that Army Sustainment Command has the ability to drive new investments in the munitions industrial base? Well, sir, I I too am concerned about um some of the draw down of our workforce.
▶ 0:53:18I know there is um uh across the services uh a hard look at where they can take these cuts. Um I like you uh as a as a sustainer uh think that that's one of our core competencies in the department. Uh it's a it's not only a core capability, it's a core responsibility. Uh I know that there's much innovation going on uh in JMC.
▶ 0:53:45Um I I think that they are taking a thoughtful approach to how they're looking at their workforce and where they can take these cuts. Um but beyond that, I would have to defer to my uh partner in the army on on where those cuts are and how much risk they believe they're taking. Thank you, Mr. Morani. uh to Major General Ree. The Quad City's cartridge case facility at the Arsenal is is critical part of our munitions industrial base. Uh but many of its processes are many decades old.
▶ 0:54:15Now, you touched on this, but could you elaborate a little bit more on how the army plans to work with partners to innovate and modernize our facilities? Yeah, we have a um you know a strategy at Quad Cities. You know, here most recently was producing Navy 5 in you know it's the only facility here in North America that does you know brass and steel cartridge cases but we just haven't seen the demand you know for the calibers that uh are produced there.
▶ 0:54:45So our strategy now is is um you know we've got a sources sought out there to industry and soliciting their feedback. And so we recently did an industry day and we invite them to tour the facility to see, you know, was there novel approaches, you know, above and beyond cartridge case production to leverage because it's a fantastic facility. And you look at the age of our army ammunition plants and arsenals that are out there. Most of them date back to, you know, 1940. That's one of the nicer facilities that we have. And so there's a lot of opportunity there.
▶ 0:55:15Um we we're getting ready to do a second industry day. um you know to see what industry you know comes back with and and and you know some of their innovative ideas of how we can leverage that facility but we're actively working in that space. Thank you sir to General Duncan. Joint Munitions Command did a great job ramping up munitions production uh to help Ukraine defend its democracy.
▶ 0:55:38um what lessons have we learned and more importantly, you know, how should we commit to furthering our work on behalf of our of our soldiers with what we've Congressman, thanks for that question. It was a pleasure meeting you uh earlier as well and we do appreciate your continued ad advocacy for the rock and um and that's a great question.
▶ 0:55:59What we learned it more so revalidated is the value of the OIB as it stood ready for that emerging requirement and we were able to ramp up and spin quickly to that uh new requirement for uh support and it was delivered uh every single time. Now, we did we did need to expand capacity and we're looking at long more longer term and cooperation with JPEO for um bigger pieces, but that those people that run in these uh these government operated facilities were fantastic.
▶ 0:56:29And and to the comment about ATI, sure, we're in our early phases of that. We're committed to making sure that the joint force gets the support that they continue to get worldclass munition support and we retain the right skill and talent that we've developed there in joint munitions command whatever headquarters it may fall under. Thank you everyone for your dedication to the missions. I yield back. Thank you Mr. Senson. We now go to Mr. Magcguire. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Thank you for our witnesses and again always want to thank our military men and women.
▶ 0:56:58Uh we wouldn't have a country without you. General Rain and General Duncan, the Army is facing a capability shortfall of solid rocket motors, SRMS. How is the Army planning on overcoming this munitions deficiency? And I guess we'll start with General Duncan. Sure. Uh, as I stated before, we're we're solid in making sure that we have a a great foundation for the munitions, storage, and demill that we already have and already operating.
▶ 0:57:29We're continuing to always look at in process improvement and key modernization uh investments through our for infrastructure at our installations. I just recently went to Crane, Indiana, where we cut the ribbon on a uh new railard out there. The first time in many decades where we've had an improvement to the rail system out there, which is going to double their output capability at that location and help us get to more emerging requirements more quickly. Mr. I'll I'll defer to General Ry for General Reed.
▶ 0:57:58Sir, we we can take that for action that doesn't fall within the conventional munitions portfolio, but we can work with our army teammates to get you a better answer and we'll commit to do that. Sure. Appreciate General Ree and General Dunet. Again, I am encouraged by recent progress concerning the new 155 millimeter artillery metal parts production facility in Texas and the recent announcement of a future TNT production facility in Kentucky.
▶ 0:58:22How are you both looking to onshore the production of other key munition components and expand in production capacity of key products here in the United States? Thank you, Congressman. I think TNT is a great example. Um, you know, that's something that was European sourced um and very quickly went to a single source and you know we had multiple lines of effort to address that to meet the demands for the 155 scale up.
▶ 0:58:51Um you know first and foremost um you know we had a here and now requirement and so we looked at other international partners and we worked handinand glove with our armament center teammates to qualify additional sources in South America in Australia and in Asia. You know, we also qualified composition B, which is a 60% RDX, 40% TNT mix that would extend our TNT supplies.
▶ 0:59:18And then in parallel, we worked with uh, you know, defense production act to um, you know, bring the TNT cap back, you know, capability back to the US. You know, we stopped producing TNT in 1986 here in the US. And so to restore that capability and improve our national security is a, I think, a major step forward. General Doug, any comments on that? Congressman, I didn't have any further comments on that. I thought General answered that. Appreciate you. All right.
▶ 0:59:45General Moroni, the the organic industrial base ammunition plants depot's arsenals are vital to sustaining the war fighter in Virginia. The army owns the Radford Army ammunition plant, the sole I'm not sure if that's how you say it. Nitro cellulose. That nitro cellulose and propellant manufacturing site within the borders of the United States.
▶ 1:00:06How is the army utilizing Radford in the overall scheme for its propellant So I I actually really don't want to speak for my my colleagues in the army on that. So I'll defer to that. Um but I would like to comment on your your about your solid rocket motor.
▶ 1:00:24So when I I took some notes and through our IBASS uh funding uh we've invested with the army million in solid rocker motors through DPA title 3 we've invested $231 million in industrial expansion. So this is one area that we've we've prioritized in in our DPA and IBBAS programs to get after some shortfalls in munitions. And I'll defer to Army on the Radford question. Sure.
▶ 1:00:52The next question could be for whoever who's best to answer the question, but I understand that we depleted our reserves in 155 quite a bit over the last few years. How bad is the problem and how soon can we get well? Can anybody take a stab at that? I'll take that one. Um, actually, I I believe you will find 155 is a success story. Um, you know, earlier we were talking about a production rate of 14,000 a month.
▶ 1:01:18Uh well, I looked that up last night and we're at 59,000 on our way to 100,000. This is an area again where we invested heavily uh based on the crisis in Ukraine, 1.9 billion since 20 uh 2022. So, this is a great example of where we put our money uh where our mouth is, we can uh we can move pretty fast. That's about 18 months to to get that almost 4x expansion.
▶ 1:01:43uh so the through these programs we can move quickly when we put that money into uh these go-k uh commercial activities. Thank you. I yield back. Thank the gentleman from Virginia and now go to Mr. Sorenson. Uh thank you for an additional question with respect to army priorities you know multi-dommain operations and preparing even for future uh conflict.
▶ 1:02:08Um, is the department being proactive or reactive in your opinion today to Mr. Grisado Ree or Duncan? I think the army's being very proactive regarding multi-dommain operations. We are developing both weapon systems and ammunitions that could be used for both offensive fires and defensive fires across echelon and across um domains. So, we're not just purely looking at one-way systems.
▶ 1:02:37So the army's heavily investing in that across the board and doing the command and control systems that are necessary to affect those Sir, I would just add that, you know, from an industrial-based perspective, you know, the the army and, you know, the department is putting their money where their mouth is. And so you look at the critical investments that we're making, you know, in infrastructure, you know, I'd shared that, you know, most of our facilities date back to the World War II surge.
▶ 1:03:02Um, I was just out at at Lake City and I'd asked the team, "When's the last time we built anything new at Lake City?" And the answer was 26th December 1940. And we found that answer in President Truman's presidential library when he was Senator Truman with his fedora and trench coat, you know, putting a shovel on the ground out there.
▶ 1:03:21But it gives you an idea of you know the age of some of our facilities and the equipment in many cases is original to the facility which you know drives problems in terms of you know sustainment and repair parts and how do you how do you fix some of that uh equipment and so um you know the the other you know kind of key piece is the new facilities coming in you know the organic industrial base you know saved our bacon I mean to today I mean that's is what is still producing you know in support of international partners and for replenishment
▶ 1:03:51operations from our roar reserves and the new facilities are just now coming online. So investments we made two years ago are just now coming due and that's you know you know the trigger for this you know rapid increase in production capacity that we're going to see here in the coming Great. Um you know I I do want to follow up a little bit on Congressman Maguire and how we touched on TNT production.
▶ 1:04:16Um, you know, we have seen how important it is to make sure that we are continuing to support Ukraine in an understanding that Russia as it moves from east to west with every mile, every kilometer, it gets closer and closer to Poland. I don't believe that a lot of people understand how important Poland is for our own supply of TNT. Could you touch on that and also give some more information on why it is so important that we onshore this production?
▶ 1:04:48Thank you for that question, Congressman. Um, here recently we were 100% dependent on Polish TNT sources, right? We um, prior to the war, we were sourcing from Ukraine. That facility no longer exists. And so um you I'd mentioned you know the great work we've done in conjunction with the Arman Center to qualify additional TNT sources from South America from Australia from Asia that are helping to defay you know the work we're doing with composition B to qualify in our munitions so that we can extend the use and
▶ 1:05:18use you know RDX explosive that we produce in Holston you know one of our key army ammunition plants you know to extend our TNT supplies and that buys us some time and space you know for the here and now for the readiness piece to uh support you know some of the further developments as we look at our modernization line of effort of how do we you know incorporate and integrate you know some of these more advanced CL20 as an example in our munitions of the future thank you all very much back
▶ 1:05:49thank you Mr. Sornson. I want to thank our witnesses for joining us today. Thanks so much for your testimony. We look forward to continuing the effort to modernize our energetics program, make sure we build weapons magazine depth and make sure that we are up to the task of where our adversaries are. Understanding that the world becomes a more dangerous place and the best way to deter is to make sure we know that uh we can respond back and that our adversaries know that we can respond back. So thanks again and the committee or subcommittee is