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About the Arsenal

Picatinny Arsenal is a high performing military installation committed to excellence in the pursuit of mission readiness and delivering novel and effective solutions to the warfighter.

01

The Mission

Picatinny Arsenal is the Joint Center of Excellence for Armaments and Munitions, providing products and services to all branches of the U.S. military.

02

Our Capabilities

The expertise and experience that exist at Picatinny are at the leading edge of Army transformation. All branches of our armed services have benefited from Picatinny.

03

Facilities & Location

Picatinny’s desirable location, unique laboratories, and special facilities make it even more convenient for the public and the mission.

3900
Civilians Employed and Counting
30
Awards and Counting
65
Laboratories
6500
Acres
We Are Picatinny Arsenal

Picatinny Arsenal’s Importance

Picatinny is a unique facility that is vital to our nation – there is no government or industry counterpart with the same capabilities. As the Joint Center of Excellence for Lethality, Picatinny Arsenal provides products and services to all branches of the U.S. military, leading the way in research, development, acquisition, and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapon systems and ammunition.

10 highlights of what sets Picatinny apart and makes it so vital to the success of our military:

Picatinny is American’s singular source for expertise for lethality, explosives and firepower.
Picatinny designs a comprehensive range of warfighting items including small arms, medium and large caliber weaponry as well as custom special devices.
Picatinny is a technological leader in complex fire control systems and software, munitions safety and decommissioning and logistics. Picatinny provides our warfighter with firepower leverage in both open battlefields as well as constricted urban warfare.
Picatinny’s customers include Joint Warfighter Support across the services as well as US allies and coalition partners.
Picatinny is a key player in homeland defense technology development. Picatinny continues to develop innovation in explosives detecting devices, x-ray equipment, sensors, perimeter protection, port protection, non-lethal weapons and intrusion detection.
Picatinny provides timely in-theater support and troubleshooting for deployed weapons systems.
Picatinny is a full partner in every step of the military’s acquisition lifecyle and provides cradle to grave support.
Picatinny is the DOD’s center for non-lethal weaponry and systems.
Picatinny is a key player in the future of warfare armament weaponry and technologies.
Picatinny’s human capital talent pool is a unique blend of specialized, irreplaceable talent delivering creative out of the box solutions to military needs. There is no commercial or industrial equivalent to this mix of talent, knowledge and facilities.

Our History

1880
01
Picatinny Powder Depot
formerly Dover Powder Depot, created
1907
02
First Powder Factory
Picatinny Arsenal establishes first powder factory and moves into research and development with school for weaponry
1911
03
Laboratories
Establish test and control labs
1919
04
Laboratories
Lab opens for development of artillery ammunition
1921
05
Arsenal Takes over responsibility for fuzes.
New methods for storing smokeless powder; Improved processing of RDX; Discovery of new explosive halite
1926
05
Explosion
Lightning strike detonates temporary magazines storing WW1 munitions and 2.5 million pounds of TNT. Aftermath results in the establishment of modern munitions storage safety requirements.
1930s
06
WWII
Construction of “modern” testing facilities and the establishment of new production methods and facilities that would support WW2 in the following decade. Development of an in-depth curriculum of Munitions Engineering courses for US Army Ordnance Officers.
1940s
07
Research Triumphs
Arsenal employs 18,000 people, runs three shifts turning out bombs and artillery shells. Development of delay fuzes for skip bombing; Special bombs for dams and oil fields; Pioneered production processes. Also designed/developed a detonator for a self-destruct mechanism for an air-to-air radar for night fighting.
1950s
08
Korean War
Support during war and improved bazooka and an developed an illuminating rifle grenade. And development of the shell for the Atomic Annie and rocket motors and warheads for missile systems.
1960s
09
More Contributions
In radar, pyrotechnics, missiles, time fuzes and nuclear munitions
1970s
10
Vietnam War
Support in war and provided a complete family of 40mm ammunition for grenade launchers and helicopter gun ships
1977
11
Army Recognizes Picatinny
By headquartering Armament Research and Development Command at the Arsenal
1983
12
ARDEC
Picatinny becomes home to the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center
1986
13
Award Recepient
Named US Army R&D Organization of the Year
1990s
14
Award Recepient
Named US Army R&D Organization of the Year
2000s
15
Rapid Response to Urgent Requirements
Emergency stockpile, non-lethal munitions, IED Defeats, Small munitions advances, Precision guidance advances, Mortars
2006
16
Milestone Accomplishments
First DoD Organization to receive CMMI Level 5 in all 3 disciplines
2010
17
Milestone Accomplishments
First federal organization to achieve CMMI Level 5 for Development Version 1.2
2011
18
Recognition
Named Department of Defense Joint Specialty Site for Guns and Ammunition
2012
19
Recognition
Eight ARDEC Projects and 53 employees recognized in the Research and Development Achievement Awards
2015
20
Recognition
IDTechEx Conference, recognized ARDEC as the “Best Development in 3D Printing,” for its role in developing the SuperScript 3D Printer
2016
21
Recognition
The American Society for Engineering Education; Middle Atlantic Conference, recognized Picatinny’s STEM work as the “Best Diversity Paper"

Awards

Picatinny Arsenal is a proud recipient of many awards over the years. Picatinny was the first Federal and only DoD organization to receive the Malcolm Baldrige Award. Picatinny Arsenal is also 1 of 2 organizations worldwide to have Baldrige and Shingo recognition at enterprise level. Below is a sample of some awards Picatinny has received over the years.

U.S. Army R&D Excellence Award

1989, 1996, 1997 & 1998

U.S. Army R&D Organization of the Year Award

1993, 1995 & 2000

New Jersey Quality Partnership Award

1996

Vice President’s National Performance Review Hammer Award

1991

President’s Quality Improvement Prototype Award

1995

Army’s Large-Development Laboratory of the Year Award

2008 & 2009

Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for Cultural Resources Management

2014, 2015 - Small Installation

Army Communities of Excellence Commander in Chief Award

1996 & 2000

Army Communities of Excellence Chief of Staff of Army Award

1996 & 2000

Presidential Award for Quality

1996

Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award

2007

Shingo Bronze Medallion for Operational Excellence

2011

Packaging Excellence Award

2014 - Awarded to 3 Employees

Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award

2014

IEEE CS/SEI Watts S. Humphrey Award SPA

2018 - FCSTD of WSEC center of CCDC-AC

Samuel Sharpe Award

2018 - Awarded to ARDEC Director, John Hedderich

Energy Management Award

2001 & 2002

Energy Conservation Award

2000

Energy & Water Management Award

2001, 2006, 2009, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014 & 2018

Federal Energy and Water Management Award

2009 & 2010

ACECNJ Distinguished Award for Engineering

2013 - Picatinny Arsenal & the RBA Group, Inc.

New Jersey Quality Achievement Award

1998

New Jersey Historic Preservation Award

2013

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