Orbital ATK receives orders for military ammunition

DULLES, Va., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Orbital ATK is to produces medium- and large-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military and allied nations under a U.S. Army contracts worth $105 million.

The orders from the U.S. Army Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems are for 20mm, 25mm and 30mm tactical and target practice ammunition for air, sea and land weapons platforms and 120mm tactical and training ammunition for the Abrams Main Battle Tank.

"We are committed to being the partner of choice for the production and development of ammunition for a wide variety of combat systems," said Dan Olson, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK's Armament Systems Division of the Defense Systems Group. "Our contributions to the soldier are to provide a continuous supply of ammunition for training and tactical use, and to develop ammunition that provides a distinct combat advantage for those defending their nation's security."

The 20mm ammunition are for the PGU-27 target and PGU-28 tactical Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary, commonly used with fighter aircraft. Additional 20mm orders included the MK244 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot Enhanced Lethality cartridge -- used with the U.S. Navy's Phalanx system -- and the M940 Multi-Purpose Tracer Self-Destruct cartridge for use with the U.S. Army's Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) system.

Orbital ATK said they will be produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in the new Orbital ATK-managed production facility.

The 25mm ammunition ordered included the M792 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer and Self Destruct cartridge, for the M242 Bushmaster, KBA, M811 or GAU-12 cannons.

The 30mm MK266 High Explosive Incendiary rounds ordered can be used with the MK44 Bushmaster cannon or any cannon firing 30mm x 173mm ammunition.

Ammunition for Abrams tanks are next-generation 120mm Kinetic Energy anti-tank cartridges, which recently received type classification and passed its initial lot acceptance testing. Full rate production is expected to begin in early 2016.

Orbital ATK said it also received an order for the 120mm M1002 Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank target practice cartridge.