FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Army awarded a $435 million contract on Friday to build a TNT production plant in western Kentucky that will become the first domestic source for the explosive material in decades, officials said.

By Tom Latek Kentucky Today U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell announced the U.S. Army will award Repkon USA $435,000,000 to construct a Trinitrotoluene (TNT) production facility in Muhlenberg County’s Graham community.

A production facility to manufacture TNT for the Army will be built in Western Kentucky. Repkon USA has been awarded a $435 million contract to build the plant in the Graham community in Muhlenberg County,

The production plant from Kentucky will be the first domestic source for the explosive material in decades, officials said.