ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) -- A new small arms repair facility is set to open at the Anniston Army Depot in north Alabama.

The Huntsville Times reports the new facility will open Jan. 20 to replace one that's been used for nearly six decades to refurbish rifles, machine guns and other weapon-related equipment for the U.S. military.

The Anniston Army Depot repairs more than 30,000 small weapons a year as the small arms Department of Defense Center for Industrial and Technical Excellence.

The new 83,385-square-foot repair facility cost $18.2 million to build and is outfitted with modern production equipment worth $6.4 million. The Army says it expects to see a return on the investment by 2022.

The Army says the new facility eliminates about $300,000 a year in maintenance costs for the old facility.