General Dynamics [GD] yesterday said it was awarded ammunition contracts with a combined value of about $64 million for U.S. and International customers.
Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., awarded General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems the major share of the third option on a previously awarded multi-year contract for the production of 20mm PGU-27A/B Training Practice (TP), the PGU-30A/B Training Practice with Tracer (TP-T) and the PGU-28A/B Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary tactical round.
Additionally, the company was awarded a contract from an international customer for the production and delivery of 20mm PGU-28A/B combat ammunition.
All the work will be performed at the company’s Marion, Ill., operations.
Tim McAuliffe, vice president and general manager of medium caliber ammunition programs, said, “General Dynamics has a long legacy of producing 20mm PGU ammunition for the U.S. military. We developed all three rounds at the request of the U.S. Navy to replace the aging M50 series and we are proud to continue to support our customers in providing this superior combat and training ammunition.”
McAuliffe added, “The international award is a significant win for General Dynamics. We are the only licensed producer of the 20mm PGU family that can sell all three rounds internationally. The contract represents a growing market for our medium-caliber business.”
The company’s long-standing and exclusive licensing agreement with Norway’s Nammo for the 20mm multi-purpose technology was the foundation for the development of PGU family. General Dynamics and Nammo have a long and successful relationship in producing and supplying medium caliber ammunition world-wide.
The rounds are used in training and combat by the Air Force and Navy fixed-wing aircraft, including F-14, F-15, F-16 and F/A-18 fighters and the Marines AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. The PGU-27 and PGU-30 are highly reliable and cost-effective 20mm target practice solutions and are ballistically matched to the PGU-28A/B.
The tactical PGU-28 A/B SAPHEI is a semi-armor piercing, high-explosive incendiary multi-purpose round with a pyrotechnic delay fuze. By delaying the round’s detonation until after it has entered the target, the PGU-28 provides greater performance and lethality over its predecessor, the M56. The PGU-28 A/B also has a significantly increased velocity and range over the M56 and is used to support close air-to-ground support operations.