Iowa Army Ammunition Plant

The mission of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAP), located in Des Moines County in southeastern Iowa, near the city of Burlington, is to manufacture and deliver large caliber items for the Department of Defense using modern production methods in support of worldwide operations.

Capabilities
Capabilities of the center include: load, assemble and pack for a full range of munitions and high explosive components; tank ammunition (105 mm; 120 mm); high explosive artillery; large caliber mortars (81 mm; 120 mm); insensitive munitions; smart munitions mines/scatterable mines; missile assembly/missile warheads; rocket assisted projectiles; detonators; development; pressed and cast warheads; and testing.

History
The IAAP was established in November 1940, as the Iowa Ordnance Plant and started production in 1941. Production was stopped in 1945, when WWII ended. In 1947, the US Atomic Energy Commission assumed responsibility. The plant resumed its ammunition manufacturing mission in 1949. In 1950, in response to the Korean War, production increased dramatically. During these years it was known as the Burlington Atomic Energy Commission Plant (BAECP). The Burlington AEC Plant did final assembly on nuclear weapons until 1975, when assembly was consolidated at Pantex. In 1975, responsibility for the IAAP reverted to the Army.

Facilities
IAAP is housed on 19011 acre with 767 buildings, 282 igloos and storage capacity of 1100775 sqft. It also has 143 mi of roads and 102 mi of railroads. The facilities are located within the townships of Union Township, Danville Township, Flint River Township, and the southern part of the small city of Middletown, Iowa, all in Des Moines County.

BRAC 2005
IAAP had gained the 105 mm and 155 mm artillery and the shoulder-launched multi-purpose assault weapon missile warhead workload from the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. It also had gained the “family of scatterable mines” and the detonator workload from the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant. Both of these facilities were closed due to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Environment
IAAP was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priority List (Superfund) in 1990.