The Munitions Engineering and Technology Center (METC) is responsible for complete life-cycle engineering research, development, production, field support and demilitarization for all integrated munitions systems in support of the Joint Services and Homeland Defense/Homeland Security mission areas. This includes technology concept and engineering development, experimental evaluation and qualification, production engineering for lethal and scalable lethality munition systems and components, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal procedures.

METC has the responsibility to generate a balance of armament technologies investments, including evolutionary and most importantly "disruptive" technologies, such as Hybrid Munitions and Brilliant Precision Munitions which destroy moving targets with a single munition. Technology investment must be virtually continuous - weeding and feeding multiple sources including in-house, industry, other government labs, academia and foreign sources.

A brief description of each Competency Directorate under METC follows:

Munitions Systems Directorate (MSD):

The Munitions Systems Directorate provides and supports the Warfighter with the most lethal, survivable and reliable munitions systems utilizing advanced state-of-the-art technologies through the execution of technical and programmatic life-cycle engineering activities (research, development, production, manufacturing, field support and demilitarization) for all integrated lethal and non-lethal conventional, precision, directed energy munitions systems and sub-munitions. This includes tank and other vehicle fired munitions; artillery munitions; mortars munitions and systems; small, medium caliber munitions and cannon caliber munitions; shoulder fired and recoilless munitions; hand-emplaced munitions and grenades; demolition munitions, firing devices; and munitions for hit to kill interceptors for vehicle and base protection systems.

Fuze and Precision Armaments Directorate (FPAD):

The mission of the Fuze and Precision Armaments Directorate (FPAD) is to rapidly transition advanced fuzing, networked sensing, hostile fire detection, explosive detection, aeroballistics, maneuver support and precision armaments solutions that address Warfighter capability gaps through innovative design and life cycle application of state of the art analysis, evaluation and test technology. FPAD is the preferred source for our capabilities within the munitions domain and in some cases, across multiple domains and within the Joint Services.

Energetics and Warheads Directorate (EWD):

Responsible for lifecycle engineering in the areas of warheads, explosives, propellants, pyrotechnic devices and associated materials for critical warfighter munition items. Through extensive use of in-house expertise and facilities: develop warheads and lethal mechanisms to meet munitions, missile and other community needs; perform research, synthesis, formulation, scale-up, characterization, experimentation, evaluation/forensic analysis, prototyping, piloting, and production/surveillance/field support of explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics.

Analysis, Materials, & Prototyping Directorate (AMP):

The AMP's mission is to provide Manufacturing, Engineering Analysis, Producibility, Prototyping, and Reverse Engineering expertise in support of Armaments technologies. AMP competency ranges from prototyping armament products on traditional production qualified manufacturing equipment as well as establishing and developing new Manufacturing technologies and processes. AMP Models and Simulates the weapon/munitions events using Finite Element Analysis, Gas Dynamic, and other structural modeling, providing feedback to designers and manufacturing to optimize material selection and product configuration. AMP Materials Competencies include expertise in both metallic and organic materials, providing full material testing and analysis to support modelling, design, manufacturing, and failure analysis. The Directorate documents the optimum design and requirements by providing expertise in Producibility Engineering that assist designers in the development of Technical Data Packages and acquisition managers with cost reduction and quality improvement efforts for type classified components and assemblies. As an example of new manufacturing technologies support, AMP maintains the lead for Additive Manufacturing of both metallic and non-metallic (non-energetic) structural materials, and works with other centers and organizations to develop the necessary standards and documentation for this emerging technology. These competencies provide the ability to enhance and grow new and emerging technologies to provide our Warfighters with technologies that provide increased lethality, improved survivability, increased range, and reduced cost life cycle cost.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Demil and Experimentation Directorate (EODD):

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Division provides EOD functional support to U.S. munition developers. Develops render safe and disposal procedures for both US and foreign ordnance and conducts analysis of foreign munitions. Provides numerous types of training products for Joint EOD warfighters worldwide. Also provides the necessary technology solutions to help them accomplish their mission.

Demil and Environmental Technology Division provides the necessary technology support to safely and effectively perform largescale demil operations. Also performs environmental analysis and support to various PEO/PM and armament development communities as well as the GOCO Army Ammunition Plants CONUS wide.

Armament Experimentation and Evaluation Division provides test and evaluation support to the armament development community. Conducts limited range full-up ballistic and static testing and evaluation of both US and foreign weapons and munition systems.

These Competency Directorates are designed to consolidate personnel with similar, synergistic talents or competencies under one management structure. This consolidation promotes greater cross-fertilization of technologies and therefore greater depth, making the organization more agile and responsive to adjust to large program terminations or start-ups.

These Directorates are ultimately accountable for growing the capabilities of the workforce and, through coordination with The CCDC Armaments Center Headquarters and the Enterprise Systems Integration Center, ensuring that use of the METC workforce is maximized through participation on Integrated Product Teams and other work assignments to support the rapid and consistent maturation of technologies and technology solutions.

METC also has the responsibility for continuing modernization of facility assets so that The CCDC Armaments Center remains a "state of the art" organization. New technologies or advanced concepts generated by METC will be coordinated with elements of The CCDC Armaments Center Headquarters and the Enterprise Systems Integration Center and together these ideas can be promoted to various customer agencies for Army and Joint Service User interest and funding resources.

In short, METC will provide Soldiers with state-of-the-art munition systems through innovation and research. The most important asset of METC will be its world-class personnel. METC will create a work atmosphere where employees perform at their best within world-class facilities to create and integrate technologies into munition systems at a rapid pace to satisfy the needs of our ultimate customer, the Soldier.

The CCDC Armaments Center, centered at Picatinny Arsenal, is a critical national asset that is vital to National Security and is unfettered in its ability to deliver products and provide world class facilities
and services