General Dynamics to support Abrams tanks

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- General Dynamics Land Systems has been contracted by the U.S. Army to provide technical support to the Abrams main battle tanks.

The $20.9 million contract is from the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Life Cycle Management Command. Under the deal, General Dynamics facilities based in Michigan will supply technical support for the Army's long-running Abrams main battle tank program.

Officials say General Dynamics will provide "engineering studies on Abrams main battle tanks to identify improvements and replace obsolete parts to maintain the tanks at high operational readiness rates," the release said.

The M1 Abrams main battle tank offers U.S. troops a highly mobile and heavily armored vehicle for ground warfare. The tanks are deployed for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.