Location and History 

Location

RFAAP lies in one of a series of narrow valleys typical of the eastern range of the Appalachian Mountains. Oriented in a northeast-southwest direction, the valley is approximately 25 miles long, 8 miles in width at southeast end and narrowing to 2 miles in the northeast end. RFAAP lies along the New River in the relatively narrow northeastern corner of the valley. The New River divides the Main Manufacturing Area into two sections, with the "Horseshoe Area" being within the meander of the river.

Construction at the current RFAAP began in 1940, as the U.S. Congress saw a need to increase ammunition production facilities due to anticipated involvement in World War II.

RFAAP initially consisted of two areas—a smokeless powder plant (Radford Ordinance Works) and a bag manufacturing and loading plant for artillery, cannon, and mortar projectiles (New River Ordnance Works). Each operated separately through 1945. That year, the Radford Ordinance Works was renamed "Radford Arsenal" and assumed New River Ordnance Works as a subpost. In 1950, New River Ordnance Works (now known as the New River Unit) became an integral part of the Radford Arsenal and remained so as the arsenal was renamed "Radford Ordnance Plant" in 1961, and RFAAP in 1963.

RFAAP is still manufacturing propellants, its primary mission since 1941. The plant has also produced TNT on an intermittent basis since 1968. RFAAP’s TNT facilities have been on standby since the mid-1980s. The working population at RFAAP varies greatly with mission requirements.