MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- ATK of Minnesota has received a $37 million contract to provide lightweight 30mm ammunition to Britain's Ministry of Defense.
The order includes M788 TP target practice training rounds and the M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose tactical round. Both rounds will support Britain's fleet of AH-64 Apache Helicopters.
These two rounds make up ATK's family of LW30mm ammunition and were developed and fielded for the M230 automatic cannon and the AH-64 attack helicopter.
The M789 HEDP round provides the accuracy and armor penetration capabilities necessary to effectively defeat today's threats and the cost-effective, ballisticly matched M788 training rounds enable improved warfighter performance around the globe, the company said.
ATK said it has produced more than 14 million LW30mm rounds since 1977.
"Lightweight 30mm ammunition provides superior multi-role, multi-target defeat capabilities," said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager, ATK Integrated Weapons Systems.
"Our M789 rounds are currently in use supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we are proud to provide U.S. and allied forces worldwide with the medium-caliber munitions necessary to prevail in mission-critical scenarios."
ATK's Integrated Weapon Systems Division in Mesa, Ariz., was awarded the contract. Production of the LW30mm rounds will take place at the company's facilities in Rocket Center, W.Va., and Radford, Va.
Deliveries to Britain scheduled to begin early next year.
