Army Plans To Modernize the Rock Island Arsenal May Be Inappropriate

The Army's Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is burdened with old and obsolete facilities and equipment and an insufficient capacity to meet projected mobilization production requirements responsively. The Army consequently decided to begin modernizing the arsenal's manufacturing equipment and facilities. The Army approved a 2-year planning project submitted by the Arsenal in January 1977 to analyze existing facilities and recommend improvements. This project is scheduled for completion in August 1979. Preliminary estimates indicate that modernization may cost $101 million from fiscal years 1981 to 1985, but actual costs may be substantially higher.