To increase the production of ammunition, the United States is resuming its own trinitrotoluene production, as the country has not produced it since the end of 1986.
A new trinitrotoluene plant, also known as TNT and is to open in Graham, Kentucky. This was announced by Senator Mitch McConnell.
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It should be noted that TNT is used to equip all types of munitions, from artillery shells to hand grenades. It turned out that the US was simply importing explosives. At the same time, the import supply was limited. In 2023, the US Army ordered 35 thousand tons of TNT for $1.5 billion, while the estimated need was 66 thousand tons.
The resumption of TNT production for the United States will cost $435 million. The new plant is scheduled to start production in November 2028, i.e. in 4 years. It is stated that this enterprise will be created using modern technologies of automation and waste neutralization. In total, it will employ only about 50 people.
It should be recalled that as part of the development of American ammunition production under the national multibillion-dollar program, another explosives production facility is to open at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia, which is also to produce blasting charges.
In addition, six new enterprises are to start operating: two shell production plants, two explosives equipment plants, and two powder production plants. At the same time, as of 2022, there were only two factories in the United States that produced shells and one that produced equipment.
Earlier Defense Express reported that the USA had fixed the biggest PATRIOT drawback by integrating it with LTAMDS radar.
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