Hanwha Defense USA, the American subsidiary of South Korea-based Hanwha Aerospace, has unveiled plans to invest $2.2 billion to establish an advanced munitions manufacturing campus at the U.S. Army’s Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. The announced project marks Hanwha’s first munitions production facility in the United States and aims to significantly enhance domestic artillery manufacturing capability.
The new campus is planned to produce critical components including 155mm propellant charges and base-bleed units, which are essential for modern artillery ammunition. Construction is anticipated to span approximately seven years, with the facility expected to be operational by 2031, pending final schedules.
This development is set to create close to 400 new jobs in the region over the course of construction and ramp-up. State and company officials noted that the project represents a substantial expansion of Arkansas’s defense manufacturing base, positioning the state as a key hub for munitions production in support of broader U.S. military readiness.
Hanwha Defense USA’s investment aligns with ongoing federal efforts to strengthen domestic defense supply chains and manufacturing capacity. Located on a 1,065-acre site at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, the manufacturing campus will bolster the U.S. Army’s artillery ammunition production and help alleviate supply constraints.
The initiative follows Hanwha’s growing footprint in the U.S. defense sector and reflects broader trends of international defense contractors expanding manufacturing capabilities on American soil. The collaboration with the Army and integration into the Pine Bluff Arsenal site underscores the strategic importance of domestic industrial base investments for national security.
