- BAE Systems received a $20.3 million contract to supply 6.4 million pounds of cotton linters for use in nitrocellulose production at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
- The contract supports continued propellant manufacturing for U.S. Army ammunition and has a completion date of December 31, 2026.
BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., based in Radford, Virginia, has been awarded a firm‑fixed‑price contract valued at $20,348,798 to procure and store 6.4 million pounds of sheeted cotton linters, a primary raw material used to produce nitrocellulose for propellant manufacturing at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
The award was issued on November 7, 2025.
According to the contract announcement, bids were solicited with one received. Work will be carried out in Radford, Virginia, with an estimated completion date of December 31, 2026. The Army obligated $20,381,455 in Fiscal Year 2026 funds at the time of the award under Contract Number W52P1J‑11‑D‑0013 W519TC‑26‑F‑0002.
The Radford Army Ammunition Plant, operated by BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc., is one of the Army’s primary production sites for propellants, explosives, and energetics. Cotton linters — the short fibers that remain on cottonseed after ginning — are processed into nitrocellulose, a key ingredient in military propellants used for artillery, small‑arms ammunition, and rocket systems.
Company representatives have previously described cotton linter supply as a foundational component of the plant’s industrial base, supporting the production of energetics essential to U.S. ammunition programs. The Army Contracting Command in Rock Island, Illinois, is overseeing the procurement as part of its long‑term sustainment effort for domestic propellant manufacturing.
The acquisition supports continued production requirements at Radford as the Army maintains high volumes of ammunition demand. Nitrocellulose production is one of the most resource‑intensive stages of propellant manufacturing, requiring stable supplies of cotton linters to sustain output across multiple munition lines. The large quantity procured under this contract reflects planning for future production cycles and long‑lead raw material needs.
The Radford facility has long played a central role in supplying energetics for U.S. forces. The plant’s output supports artillery stockpiles, small‑arms training ammunition, and key components in rocket motors and missile systems. Maintaining raw material inventories such as cotton linters ensures that propellant production remains uninterrupted during periods of increased demand or supply chain pressure.
The Army’s selection of a firm‑fixed‑price structure indicates a defined requirement for both procurement and storage, ensuring that linters are available and preserved under controlled conditions until consumed in nitrocellulose processing. Storage of raw materials is a critical function for facilities like Radford, which must balance multi‑year production forecasts with inventory management.
BAE Systems Ordnance Systems Inc. has operated Radford Army Ammunition Plant for more than a decade and manages several modernization and production initiatives on behalf of the Army. This contract reinforces the company’s ongoing role in sustaining the industrial base that supports U.S. ammunition needs.