The Department of Defense has allocated $5.1 million to Canadian Commercial Corporation and Estes Energetics to develop a process for recrystallizing nitroguanidine (NQ), an essential energetic material. This initiative aligns with the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy, aiming to bolster supply chain resilience by ensuring the availability of raw materials necessary for critical weapon systems.
Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, stated, "These investments will ensure continued domestic availability of a critical energetic while a new U.S.-based manufacturing capability for NQ is established."
The funding comes from the Defense Production Act Purchases office in partnership with the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition. The Canadian Commercial Corporation received $3.4 million, which includes $2.9 million from DPA funds and $0.5 million from Army funds, with General Dynamics – Ordnance and Tactical Systems executing this award in Valleyfield, Canada. Estes Energetics was awarded $1.7 million, comprising $1.1 million from DPA funds and $0.6 million from Army funds.
Current global conflicts have heightened demand for solvent extruded triple base propellant and IMX explosives used in artillery systems like 155mm rounds, necessitating large quantities of NQ that are currently imported. This funding aims to establish technology capable of reprocessing existing DoD inventories of NQ to mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
Mr. Anthony Di Stasio, Director of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization directorate within OASD(IBP), commented on the investment's significance: "This important investment will ensure that production of weapon systems that use triple base propellant and advanced explosives...is not disrupted while utilizing the DoD's reserves of NQ."
These awards are part of 70 allocations totaling $672 million made by the DPAP program in Fiscal Year 2024 under the oversight of MCEIP directorate.
Further information can be found at https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.html and https://jpeoaa.army.mil/.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy collaborates with partners globally to maintain a secure industrial base supporting military operations now and into the future through initiatives like the Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement.
