St. Louis-based LaBarge was awarded a $1.6 million order for cable assemblies from General Dynamics' Land Systems unit. Officials say the cable assemblies will go to support the U.S. Army's modernization of M1A1 and the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank variations.

The Army's Abrams tanks, heavily armored ground warfare vehicles, are currently undergoing a modernization that features "improvements such as upgraded software systems and improved fire control systems," the release said.

LaBarge, which has worked on the Army's Abrams program since its inception in 1980, will produce the cable assemblies at its Arkansas facility.