Radford Army Ammunition Plant (RFAAP) is a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated facility located in Montgomery and Pulaski Counties in southwest Virginia. It consists of two separate facilities; the main plant is the Radford manufacturing unit located between the city of Radford and the town of Blacksburg and consists of 4,080 acres. The New River Storage Unit is located 12 miles from the main plant near the town of Dublin and consists of 2,821 acres. Radford Army Ammunition Plant is located approximately 30 miles from Roanoke, Virginia, where the nearest major airport is located. The main plant is divided by the New River into a northwestern portion (in Pulaski County) and southeastern portion (in Montgomery County). The Claytor Lake Dam, located ten miles south of the main plant, governs the rise and fall of the New River along the boundaries of RFAAP. The terrain of the main plant is a sloping alluvial floodplain and terrace deposits border the river on the north and eastern sides. The New River Unit is gently rolling to hilly, with a low ridge along the northwest boundary.

RFAAP was one of the first single-base smokeless powder plants authorized under the National Defense program and served as a planning model for similar plants. The main plant was constructed by Mason & Hanger, Inc. with government oversight and was operated by Hercules Powder Company from 1941 to 1995. The New River Unit, which originally was a separate installation, was constructed in 1941-1942 as a bag-manufacturing-and-loading plant for smokeless and black powders. Following World War II, the two units were combined into a single installation. At the end of World War II, operations at the main plant and the New River Unit were temporarily discontinued. The Nitric Acid area of the plant was reactivated from 1946 to 1949 for the production of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer) with propellant production resuming in 1949. The outbreak of the Korean conflict required rehabilitation of large areas of the plant to accommodate military requirements. This construction took place from1950 to 1958 and included a new area enabling the plant to produce cast propellants charges for rockets and missiles. From 1964 to 1974, the Vietnam War created a need for increased production of various propellants. As the Vietnam effort declined the need for propellants also declined, resulting in reduced production and fewer employees. Also during 1974, planned improvements were made to the plant in concert with military requirements. In 1995, Alliant Techsystems took over as the operating contractor. In 1996, RFAAP was one of six ammunition plants with active missions. Modernization efforts continued with the DoD, Army and ATK to successfully increase production in vital areas of the plant. In 2011, BAE Systems, Inc. was awarded the operating contract and became the operating contractor on July 1, 2012.

Team Radford provides America’s Warfighters with superior performing propellants, energetics and munitions, in order to enable engagement and destruction of targets with total confidence.

RFAAP has embarked upon a transformation/modernization effort resulting in a modern, flexible and efficient facility that reduces the Army’s operating and production costs. These modernizations will also ensure continued support to the Department of Defense, increase the safety of employees, reduce RFAAP’s environmental impact, and provide employment for the New River Valley residents. Higher Headquarters - Joint Munitions Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois.