The Army has awarded General Dynamics [GD] three contracts worth a total of $97 million for the manufacture and delivery of ammunition, the company said in a statement.
The contracts are for 120mm M865 and M1002 tank training ammunition, 105mm M1130 high explosive (HE) pre-formed fragmentation (PFF) cartridges and 155mm M795 HE projectile metal parts.
The M865 Target Practice, Cone Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer (TPCSDS-T) ammunition is used in the 120mm smooth-bore M256 cannon of Army and Marine Corps Abrams main battle tanks, which are manufactured by General Dynamics. The M865 is designed to simulate the characteristics of lime ammunition at reduced maximum ranges to allow practice firings on short-range training areas.
The M1002 Target Practice Multi-Purpose Tracer (TPMP-T) training cartridge provides matched exterior ballistics and time-of-flight parameters to the M830A1 High Explosive Anti-Tank Multi-Purpose Tracer (HEAT-MP-T) tactical cartridge when fired from the Abrams tank.
The 105mm M1130 HE PFF ammunition is fired from the M119 towed howitzer and is the newest member of the Army’s 105mm ammunition family and recently achieved full material release, signifying that the Army has rigorously tested and evaluated the item and determined that it is safe, operationally suitable and logistically supportable for use, the company said. It has also entered service in Afghanistan.
The 155mm M795 is a high-explosive/high-fragmentation artillery projectile that is used in conjunction with the M777 and M198 towed howitzers and the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer. The round has been widely used in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Work for the 155mm artillery ammunition is expected to be complete in February 2013. The 105mm work is expected to finish by April 2014 and the 120mm tank training ammo work by Sept. 2016.