Army's FY 1980 Programs for Procuring Conventional Ammunition, Modernization, and Expansion

The Army requested $974 million for 66 conventional ammunition items and $257 million for 8 projects for modernizing and expanding the Army's ammunition base.

The $109.6 million requested for three conventional ammunition items should not be appropriated. The copperhead rounds system is not ready for procurement. Engineering development tests have not been completed and are not scheduled for completion until December 1979. There are continuing delays in testing the full-frontal area impact switch required to increase the high explosive antitank cartridges' reliability. The new improved 81-mm high explosive cartridges recent test failure resulted in the Army's decision to suspend further testing indefinitely. After reviewing all eight modernization and expansion projects all but three were adequately justified. The funds requested for a permanent facility for the production of surface launched unit fuel air explosive rocket seems premature. The project for manufacturing warhead and motor body parts for two different rocket assisted projectiles has been redesigned since the budget submission because of decreased procurement requirements. Although production capabilities for the center core propelling charges should be expanded, additional justification for the site is needed before the project is executed.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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