NSWC Indian Head

NSWC Indian Head graphic header

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Systems Engineering Department ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) Tech Agent Team Lead Phillip Melton observes the transient arc of 300kV to the discharge point between the Helicopter-ESD (HESD) Marx and the INERT ordnance on the ground plane during Bare Ordnance HESD testing.

Chemical Biological Radiological Defense Division filter housing test stand

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Chemical Biological Radiological Defense Division engineer Richard Terwilliger prepares the filter housing test stand for testing.

NSWC IHD Research, Development Test & Evaluation

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Research, Development Test & Evaluation engineering technician Scott McClung prepares a research powder gun for terminal ballistics testing.

F-18 M61 20mm Gun System

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Systems Integration Department test engineer Joe D’Alessio checks the function of the last round and rounds limit switch on the F-18 M61 20mm gun system to ensure a successful test fire at the command’s Picatinny, New Jersey Detachment gun range.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Electronic Protection Systems Branch Electronics Engineer Sean Bednarek assembles a biconical antenna for a gain measurement in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department’s Anechoic Chamber.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Energetics Manufacturing Department’s Explosives and Energetics Division operators screen energetic material at the 420 Gallon Mixer.

Announcements

Social Media Feed

Headlines

NSWC Indian Head Division Hits Milestone with First-Ever Mk 70 Solid Rocket Motor Cast

NSWC IHD cast its first-ever Mk 70 propellant grain into a salvaged Mk 12 booster case, a significant step toward increasing the command’s production capacity of large solid rocket motors for national defense programs. The command’s Mk 70 Production Using Salvaged Hardware (PUSH) program reuses components from Mk 12 Terrier boosters to produce certified Mk 70 boosters for fleet readiness and training requirements. (U.S. Navy photo Released)

June 4, 2026 - Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recently cast its first-ever regrained Mk 70 solid rocket motor (SRM) in the command’s manufacturing facilities in Indian Head, Maryland. This effort represents a...

NSWC IHD COMSEC Team Reduce Software Upgrade Time Almost 90% Using CHIMERA, Win DON Information Superiority Excellence Award, NAVIFOR Big Ideas Challenge

NSWC IHD’s COMSEC team improved equipment upgrade efficiency through implementing CHIMERA, reducing overall device upgrade time at the command by 89% and enabling nine devices to be updated in the same amount of time it previously took to complete one. Their innovation was recently acknowledged when the team was honored with two awards: DON Information Superiority Excellence Award for Innovation, presented May 11 at the 2026 DON Digital Warfighting Symposium East in Norfolk, Virginia; and the Advancing IW. Warfighting Capabilities category of the NAVINFOR BIC. (U.S. Navy photo by Matt Poynor)

May 27, 2026 - The Communications Security (COMSEC) team at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) were recently honored with two awards: the Department of the Navy’s (DON) Information Superiority Excellence Award for...

NSWC Indian Head Division Recognizes Employee Achievements During 2025 Honorary Awards

NSWC IHD celebrated its top performers, Tuesday, April 28, during the 2025 Honorary Awards Ceremony at the College of Southern Maryland’s Velocity Center in Indian Head, Maryland. Over 100 employees were recognized by command leadership for their outstanding efforts and significant contributions to NSWC IHD’s mission in 2025 as an individual or part of a team. The annual event allows NSWC IHD to honor its personnel across 19 different awards categories. (U.S. Navy photo by Matt Poynor)

April 30, 2026 - INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recognized individuals and teams making significant contributions to the command’s mission during the 2025 Honorary Awards ceremony at the...

NSWC Indian Head Division Provides Modernization Update at Community Event

March 17, 2026 - Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) leadership participated in the “State of the Station 2026” event hosted by the Charles County Military Alliance Council at the College of Southern Maryland Velocity...

NSWC IHD Anti-Terrorism Officer Awarded Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal

NSWC IHD Commanding Officer Capt. Steve Duba presented Master Sgt. Gregorio Vargas of the Air Force Reserve the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in Indian Head, Md., Dec. 1, for revitalizing the command’s AT program. As Anti-Terrorism officer, Vargas spent hundreds of hours conducting physical building inspections, authoring critical documentation, including assessments and guiding policy, and bringing the NSWC IHD AT community together. His work improves NSWC IHD’s security posture and reinforces future collaborative approaches to address challenges in the evolving threat landscape. (U.S. Navy photo Released)

Dec. 30, 2025 - Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) honored Master Sgt. Gregorio Vargas of the Air Force Reserve with the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for revitalizing the command’s Anti-Terrorism (AT)...

Base Status

NSWC Indian Head is open.

Test Range Noise Alerts

Strauss Avenue Thermal Treatment Point operations are scheduled for Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Noticeable impacts such as noise and smoke are expected to last for approximately 30 minutes to one hour.

More information on Range Operations.

Mailing Address

Naval Surface Warfare Center
Indian Head Division
3767 Strauss Avenue
Indian Head, MD 20640-5150