332993 - Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing
When it comes to manufacturing large caliber munitions critical to defense and military operations, NAICS Code 332993 plays a pivotal role. This sector focuses on producing artillery shells, bombs, and other explosive devices — excluding small arms ammunition. Whether you’re a business owner, government contractor, or industry analyst, understanding NAICS 332993 is essential for navigating opportunities in the manufacturing sector related to defense.
What is NAICS Code 332993?
NAICS Code 332993 is designated for establishments whose primary business is the manufacturing of ammunition other than small arms ammunition. This includes producing large caliber ammunition and explosive devices such as:
- Artillery shells
- Bombs and cluster bombs
- Missile warheads and boosters
- Mortar shells
- Torpedoes and other large munitions
These products are critical components used mainly by military and defense organizations worldwide.
Sector Overview: Manufacturing
NAICS 332993 falls under the broader Manufacturing sector. This sector involves transforming raw materials into finished products on a substantial scale. In this case, the products are complex explosive devices and specialized ammunition requiring intricate manufacturing processes including molding, assembly, loadings, and fusing.
Typical Business Activities Include:
- Manufacturing artillery ammunition larger than 30 mm (1.18 inches)
- Assembly and loading of bombs and explosive devices
- Producing missile warheads and jet propulsion projectiles (excluding guided missiles)
- Manufacturing fusing devices, detonators, primers, and boosters
- Production of depth charges, torpedoes, grenades, and mines
Size Standards for NAICS 332993
The Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for this NAICS code is based on the number of employees. Businesses classified under NAICS 332993 can have up to 1,500 employees to qualify as a small business. This is a crucial factor for government contracting and eligibility for small business set-aside programs.
Examples of Businesses under NAICS 332993
Businesses under this NAICS code vary based on their product focus but generally include:
- Artillery shell manufacturing plants
- Companies producing bombs and explosive ordnance
- Large caliber ammunition manufacturers for military use
- Missile warhead component manufacturers
- Facilities specializing in bomb fuse and detonator assembly
These companies often contract with defense agencies and military branches, providing critical munitions and explosive devices.
Comprehensive Code Details for NAICS 332993
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Adapters, bombcluster, manufacturing | Production of adapters used in bomb cluster units |
| Ammunition (more than 30 mm) manufacturing | Manufacture of large caliber ammunition (over 1.18 inches) |
| Ammunition loading and assembling plants | Facilities dedicated to assembling and loading ammunition |
| Arming and fusing devices, missile manufacturing | Manufacture of arming/fusing mechanisms for missiles |
| Artillery ammunition manufacturing | Production of artillery shells greater than 30 mm |
| Bag loading plants, ammunition manufacturing | Loading ammunition into bags for storage or transport |
| Bomb loading and assembling plants | Facilities assembling and loading bombs |
| Bombcluster adapters manufacturing | Making adapters specific for cluster bombs |
| Bombs manufacturing | Manufacturing explosive bombs |
| Boosters and bursters, artillery, manufacturing | Manufacture of artillery booster explosive devices |
| Canisters, ammunition, manufacturing | Production of ammunition canisters |
| Caps, bomb, manufacturing | Manufacture of bomb caps used in detonation |
| Depth charges manufacturing | Production of depth charges used in naval warfare |
| Detonators manufacturing | Making detonators for large caliber ammunition |
| Fin assemblies, mortar, manufacturing | Producing mortar fin assemblies |
| Fin assemblies, torpedo and bomb manufacturing | Producing fins for torpedoes and bombs |
| Fuses ammunition manufacturing | Manufacture of fuses for ammunition over 30 mm |
| Grenades, hand or projectile, manufacturing | Production of grenades, hand-held or projectile type |
| Igniters, ammunition tracer manufacturing | Manufacturing tracer igniters for large caliber ammunition |
| Jet propulsion projectiles manufacturing | Producing jet propulsion projectiles except guided missiles |
| Loading and assembling bombs | Facilities dedicated to bomb loading and assembly |
| Mines, ammunition, manufacturing | Manufacture of explosive mines |
| Missile warheads manufacturing | Production of missile warheads |
| Mortar shells manufacturing | Manufacture of mortar shells |
| Primers manufacturing | Production of primers for ammunition over 30 mm |
| Projectiles jet propulsion manufacturing | Manufacture of jet propulsion projectiles excluding guided missiles |
| Rockets ammunition manufacturing | Manufacture of pyrotechnic rockets (except guided missiles) |
| Shell loading and assembly plants | Facilities that load and assemble artillery shells |
| Shells, artillery manufacturing | Manufacturing artillery shells more than 30 mm |
| Torpedoes manufacturing | Manufacture of torpedoes |
| Tracer igniters ammunition manufacturing | Production of tracer igniters for large caliber ammunition |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What products are excluded from NAICS 332993?
Small arms ammunition (such as bullets for handguns and rifles) is excluded from this NAICS code. Small arms ammunition is classified separately under NAICS 332992.
Who uses the ammunition manufactured under this NAICS code?
The primary users are military and defense agencies requiring large caliber munitions for warfare, defense systems, and training.
What size business qualifies under the NAICS 332993 classification?
Businesses with up to 1,500 employees can qualify as small under this NAICS code for federal contracting purposes.
Can firms manufacturing missile guidance systems fall under this code?
No, this code refers to missile warheads and munitions, but not missile guidance electronics or systems.
Is this NAICS code relevant only to the U.S.?
While NAICS codes are primarily used in the United States, international companies contracting with the U.S. government or operating in the U.S. defense industry also use this classification.
Conclusion
NAICS Code 332993 - Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing is a specialized and critical segment of the manufacturing sector, focusing on large caliber military ammunition and explosive ordnance. From artillery shells to missile warheads, businesses in this category play an essential role in national defense and global security. With a size standard of 1,500 employees, this classification covers a wide range of manufacturing facilities and offers significant opportunities for government contracting and defense manufacturing partnerships.
If you're operating in or targeting this industry, knowing these details can guide your business development and compliance efforts effectively.
Keywords: NAICS 332993, Ammunition Manufacturing, Large Caliber Ammunition, Artillery Shells, Bombs Manufacturing, Military Ammunition, Defense Manufacturing, Ammunition Loading, Missile Warheads, SBA Size Standards
