TACOM-ARDEC extends MK19 contract

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 2 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics a contract extension to continue production of its MK19 grenade machine guns.

U.S. company General Dynamics says its Armament and Technical Products business unit was awarded the contract extension from the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command-Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Under the $10 million TACOM-ARDEC deal, General Dynamics will continue the production of its widely deployed MK19 grenade machine gun systems at the company's Maine and Vermont facilities.

"The MK19 has been in service for over 20 years, providing lethal fire against a variety of targets," Jeffrey Gramse, General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products gun systems program manager, said in a statement.

"The weapon's high lethality and broad versatility gives the U.S. armed forces an essential weapon for use in both offensive and defensive operations."