L-3 to provide mortar fuzes for U.S. allies in Syria, Iraq

Sept. 20 (UPI) -- L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance has received a $16.5 million modification to an existing contract for mortar fuses to be delivered to U.S. allies in Syria and Iraq.

The modification, announced Tuesday by the Department of Defense, falls under foreign military sales and will provide for 77,114 M783 mortar fuses. The work will be performed in Cincinnati, Ohio with production expected to run through Sept. 30, 2019.

The M783 is a standard mortar fuse used by NATO forces for 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars. It is an electronic system which can be set for point detonation on impact or delayed detonation for penetration of hardened targets.

The fraction of a second delay lets the round burrow into the ground or through fortifications before exploding.

The U.S. and other countries have been supplying weapons, vehicles, training and supplies to both Iraqi government and militia forces in Iraq and Syria to combat the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh.