SEC. 329.

Army expansion of production of 155mm artillery ammunition

DIVISION A · TITLE III: Operation and Maintenance · SUBTITLE C: Logistics and Sustainment

Source
SECTION TEXT · SEC. 329.

(a) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

the production of 155mm artillery ammunition at a minimum rate to reach total munition requirements is a national priority; and

(2)

the production rate of such ammunition should be sustained or increased over the next five years in order to—

(A)

fully meet all Army and Marine Corps annual training requirements;

(B)

rebuild war reserve inventories for both the Army and the Marine Corps to fully comply with the planning guidance of the Secretary of Defense and ensure that associated inventory and war reserve levels are met;

(C)

modernize the stockpile with the best performing weapons; and

(D)

continue foreign military sales of ammunition manufactured in the United States to generate the domestic workforce and assures wartime interoperability with United States allies.

(b) Production expansion

The Secretary of the Army shall—

(1)

expand and upgrade facilities of the Army that are used to produce propellant, metal parts, explosive fill, load assemble pack, and components of 155mm artillery; and

(2)

increase the production of propellant, metal parts, explosive fill, load assemble pack, and components of 155mm artillery to ensure that—

(A)

the total production capacity of all such facilities reaches 100,000 rounds each month; and

(B)

the Out-Year Unconstrained Total Munitions Requirement for 155mm artillery ammunition in effect for the Army pursuant to section 222c of title 10, United States Code, is met.

(c) Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the steps taken by the Secretary to carry out the requirements of this section. Such report shall include—

(1)

an identification of the amount of funds required to reach the production capacity under subsection (b)(2)(A);

(2)

a plan for—

(A)

expanding and upgrading facilities of the Army used to produce 15mm artillery ammunition; and

(B)

increasing the rate of production of such munitions;

(3)

an estimated time frame for when the production capacity under subsection (b)(2)(A) will be reached;

(4)

an estimated time frame for the production of sufficient munitions to replenish stocks to reach total munition requirements under the Out-Year Unconstrained Total Munitions Requirement for 155mm artillery in effect for the Army pursuant to section 222c of title 10, United States Code; and

(5)

a long-term plan to sustain munitions production facilities as demand for artillery ammunition may increase or decrease.