Army orders more Hydra-70s

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has given General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products $223 million in contracts for production and support of Hydra-70 rockets.

The first contract, which is worth $210.4 million, is for production of the air-to-ground weapon. The second -- value $13.5 million -- is for engineering services in support of the Hydra-70 rocket program.

"General Dynamics has supplied Hydra rockets to U.S. warfighters and to several of the nation's closest allies for more than 15 years," said Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of Armament Systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.

"Our long-held experience in managing the Hydra program allows us to work closely with the Army to deliver a weapon that is affordably built and dependable in action."

Hydra rockets are 2.75 inches in diameter and are mainly fired from helicopters. General Dynamics has been the system integrator for the production of Hydra rockets since 1996.

The company said deliveries of the Hydra-70s will be completed in early 2015 but gave no indication of the number of rockets that will be produced.

The order was given to General Dynamics by the Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The Army orders Hydra rockets for itself, other service branches and select allies.