Rock Island Arsenal will replace five aging buildings with a $4.25 million facility to test U.S. Army equipment and ensure readiness for service members.
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. — At the Rock Island Arsenal, the steady banging of tools signals another day of testing for U.S. Army equipment, where high-powered rounds are put through their paces.
“This is the canyon tube of the M105 howitzer,” David Blaylock, who works with the simulator every day, said.
The simulator is designed to test the high-powered rounds used by the U.S. Army.
“The 105 capability results in approximately 15-16 miles of a live round as far as distance is considered,” Blaylock said.
The Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at the Arsenal currently uses two simulators to ensure equipment is safe and effective. But after roughly 40 years, the area surrounding the facility is getting a major upgrade.
“We told the Army, ‘Hey, we’ll have these five buildings taken down if you replace that with one new state-of-the-art building.’ Offices, break rooms, maybe some storage room, a maintenance bay,” Blaylock said.
The new facility will cost $4.25 million in federal funding and serve as a single hub for testing and maintaining Army equipment.
“It puts us into a better place for modernizing equipment, modernizing technical skills,” Col. Eloy Martinez said.
Martinez said the work ensures service members are equipped with the highest-caliber tools.
“We’re making sure we have consistency out there for the warfighter. We’re delivering readiness and we’re delivering a 99.99 defect-free product to our warfighter,” Martinez said.
“Knowing we’re providing testing to certain parts going on weapons systems for the warfighter is certainly rewarding,” Blaylock added. “You won’t find it anywhere else in the Army.”
The upgrades will bring new life to the island, continuing its long history of supporting U.S. Army operations.
