Orbital ATK receives orders for military ammunition

DULLES, Va., April 15 (UPI) -- Orbital ATK reports it is to produce medium-caliber and large-caliber ammunition for U.S. and allied forces under contracts worth $120 million.

The awards from were received through U.S. Army Maneuver Ammunition Systems in its role as the single manager for conventional ammunition and cover both tactical and practice rounds.

"Our development and production of highly reliable and effective ammunition for the warfighter spans a wide spectrum of technologies and capabilities," said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager for the company's Armament Systems division of the Defense Systems Group. "Whether we are creating new, or producing proven ammunition types, our focus on our mission remains constant as we provide superior armaments and services to those who defend their nation's security."

Medium-caliber ammunition to be supplied under the contract includes 20mm, 25mm, 30mm and LW30mm ammunition for air, sea and land weapons platforms, ATK Orbital said, while international medium-caliber rounds are for a range of 25mm cartridges. Among them: M791 armor piercing discarding sabot with Tracer ammunition and its target practice counterpart, the M793.

Contracts for large-caliber ammunition cover 120mm M1002 multi-purpose anti-tank, target practice rounds with Tracer and M865 target practice, cone-stabilized discarding sabot with Tracer designed for use with the Abrams main battle tank.

Other awards for large-caliber ammunition are for further development and low-rate production of the M829E4, the U.S. Army's fifth generation, 120mm kinetic energy anti-tank cartridge, which incorporates an advanced design, long-rod penetrator and proprietary three-petal composite sabot.

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