GD awarded MK19 grenade machine-gun deal

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products for the delivery of MK19 grenade machine guns.

U.S. company General Dynamics was awarded two contracts from the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Under the two awards, collectively worth $66 million, General Dynamics will supply MK19 grenade machine guns. Officials say the belt-fed automatic weapon is designed to counter enemy vehicles.

"The MK19 is capable of firing up to 400 grenades per minute and can provide increased accuracy against a variety of targets, including lightly armored vehicles and dismounted infantry," Dean Gagnon, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Gun Systems senior program manager, said in a statement.

"The weapon's versatility makes it a prime choice of the U.S. Armed Forces as an essential weapon in both offensive and defensive operations."