Military Ammunition Container Defects Delivered for 48 Years Since 1973

Board of Audit and Inspection Publishes Full Audit Report on 'Ammunition Procurement and Management Status'... "Confirmed Manufacturing Different from Defense Standards"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] An audit report from the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that ammunition packaging containers that did not meet defense standards were supplied to the military for 48 years since 1973.

On the 3rd, the Board of Audit and Inspection disclosed the full audit report on the "Ammunition Procurement and Management Status."

Ammunition packaging containers are ammunition storage and packaging containers made by laminating multiple layers of paper and asphalt to stockpile ammunition long-term. They protect ammunition from external shocks and prevent corrosion caused by moisture and condensation.

According to defense standards, the waterproof layer of the ammunition packaging container is regulated to consist of one layer of aluminum foil, two sheets of double kraft paper, one sheet of asphalt kraft paper, and six layers of asphalt to ensure waterproofing and moisture-proofing of the ammunition.

The Board of Audit and Inspection stated, "As a result of quality inspections conducted on 31 containers of five types of packaging containers delivered by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to the Army Ammunition Support Command, all 31 containers were confirmed to have been manufactured differently from defense standards, with one or both of the two sheets of double kraft paper replaced by ordinary cardboard."

In particular, the Board pointed out, "Upon reviewing the manufacturing processes of the two companies that produced the ammunition packaging containers, it was confirmed that both companies used a process employing only one sheet of double kraft paper. Since the establishment of the defense standards in 1973, all packaging containers supplied to the military were manufactured and delivered with some double kraft paper sheets missing, differing from the defense standards."

Furthermore, the Board of Audit and Inspection confirmed that "the Army Ammunition Support Command also received maintenance ammunition packaging containers manufactured differently from defense standards from the same companies since 2016," and stated, "There are concerns about the deterioration of waterproofing and moisture-proofing functions of ammunition using packaging containers manufactured differently from defense standards."

The Board of Audit and Inspection notified the Minister of National Defense to prepare measures to strengthen waterproofing and moisture-proofing functions and other supplementary measures for ammunition using packaging containers manufactured differently from defense standards.

The Board also notified the Administrator of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration to take actions such as demanding replacement deliveries for quantities within the warranty period (5 years) of ammunition packaging containers supplied by four complete ammunition companies, and to prepare measures to restrict bidding qualifications for the four companies that supplied ammunition packaging containers violating defense standards.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.