The U.S. Department of the Army awarded a lease contact to Hanwha Defense USA to build and operate a new munitions facility at the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Hanwha will invest $1.3 billion in the operation and hire 200 skilled workers. “Pine Bluff Arsenal is a vital national security asset and this new chapter will build on its important contributions,” Boozman said. The investment is expected to directly support Army readiness and modernization priorities. “This is a great development for the economic future of central Arkansas and the future of our nation’s defense.”U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, whose district includes Pine Bluff, said the restart of munitions manufacturing would “create greater opportunities for the Pine Bluff community but also bolster our national defense capabilities.”