Two injured, one missing in explosion at Arkansas defense weapons plant

An explosion at a General Dynamics weapons plant in Camden, Arkansas, left two people injured and one person missing, according to company spokesman Berkley Whaley.

The incident happened shortly after 8am on Wednesday. Initially described as a “pyrotechnic incident” by Whaley, it was later confirmed to be an explosion.

“We are currently working with first responders and can confirm that the incident has resulted in at least two people injured and one person missing,” Whaley said in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with authorities as they conduct their investigation.”

Whaley did not provide additional details regarding the severity of the injuries or the extent of the damage to the plant. However, Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt told reporters, Democrat from Arkansas And GazetteThe incident is significant because it is the first of its kind at the Camden plant.

The big picture

The plant specializes in manufacturing and testing “energetic products,” which are explosive components used in missiles, rockets, and projectiles. The 900,000-square-foot General Dynamics plant produces Hydra rockets, Hellfire and Javelin warheads, 120mm mortars, and propellant charges for 155mm artillery shells, according to the company's website.

According to the latest Pentagon fact sheet released Wednesday, the United States has shipped more than 10,000 Javelin single-use missile launchers to Ukraine, as well as more than 3 million 155mm artillery shells and an unspecified quantity of 120mm mortars.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon announced plans to increase monthly production of 155mm shells from 28,000 to 70,000 by the end of 2024. It is unclear whether the Camden plant has recently increased its propellant production to meet this goal, although General Dynamics is currently hiring 19 new employees in Arkansas, according to its website.

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