MINNEAPOLIS, July 12 (UPI) -- ATK of Minnesota is developing next-generation ammunition for the U.S. Army's Abrams main battle tank.
The 3-year contract to develop and qualify the M829E4 120mm Advanced Kinetic Energy tactical tank round for the U.S. Army is worth $77 million, the company said.
At the completion of the contract, ATK will have completed the second phase of the Engineering Manufacture Design work required to qualify the new round for use with the Army's M1A2 SEP Abrams. Upon qualification, the round will enter full-rate production.
"During our 30 years of program experience partnering with the Army, we have type classified 10 of the 12 120mm tactical and training rounds for the Abrams tank," said Bruce DeWitt, vice president and general manager for ATK Advanced Weapons Division.
"This experience makes ATK uniquely qualified to develop this next-generation capability for the Army."
The M829E4 is the Army's fifth-generation, 120mm kinetic energy cartridge. The round is being developed to provide the Abrams M1A2 SEP with heavy armor defeat capabilities that allow the tank crew to engage and destroy threat Main Battle Tanks protected with advanced, explosive reactive armor at extended ranges as well as in military operations in urban terrain and non-traditional battlefields.
The round will allow for the use of fewer rounds and allow for faster enemy engagements.
