# Army Modernizes Ammunition Plants

The Pentagon’s munitions replenishment effort is increasing reliance on aging Army ammunition facilities, creating demand for production-capacity upgrades and plant modernization. The Army cites an **$18 billion** industrial-base modernization effort, with completion not expected until 2038; a separate **$53 million** 2026 award to American Ordnance covers work at Iowa Army Ammunition Plant. The reporting also highlights environmental-compliance and worker-safety risks at aging facilities. No new solicitation or procurement contact is identified.

- The modernization effort points to potential work involving production equipment, facility upgrades, environmental controls, and worker-safety systems, but the $18 billion figure is not identified as a single contract or open solicitation.
- Companies pursuing ammunition-facility work should account for environmental compliance, safety requirements, and regulatory scrutiny in their technical and cost planning.
- American Ordnance’s 2026 Iowa Army Ammunition Plant award provides a concrete example of current work in this market; the 2038 completion horizon indicates that the broader modernization effort is long-term.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** November 04, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Army (Army)
- Army Sustainment Command
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

### Vendors
- American Ordnance (Plant operator and contract awardee)
- BAE Systems (Plant operator)

### Key Quotes
> The biggest problem is that the Department of Defense is effectively self-regulating.
> — Mathy Stanislaus, former EPA toxic-cleanup official

> You can’t increase production without increasing the toxic byproducts that come from that production.
> — Alyssa Carpenter, founder of Citizens for Arsenal Accountability

### Sources
- [The Pentagon needs more ammo for the Iran war. Small communities are paying the price. - Defense News](https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2026/11/04/the-pentagon-needs-more-ammo-for-the-iran-war-small-communities-are-paying-the-price) - Defense News