Alliant Techsystems said it has received $31 million in awards under two contracts from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island, Ill., to produce 20mm and 30mm tactical and training ammunition.
Under the first award, ATK will deliver 20mm Mk244 Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) rounds for the U.S. Navy 20mm Phalanx anti-missile system. The award consists of a base year with four option years and deliveries beginning in December 2009. The Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) is a fast-reaction, rapid-fire 20mm gun system that provides U.S. Navy ships with a terminal defense against anti-ship missiles that have penetrated other fleet defenses.
Under a separate award, ATK will deliver 30mm PGU-15 Target Practice (TP) ammunition for the U.S. Air Forces A-10 Warthog. Deliveries on the multiple-year contract begin in 2010. Specifically designed for close air support against a variety of ground targets, the A-10s combination of large and varied ordnance load, long loiter time, accurate weapons delivery, austere field capability, and survivability has proven invaluable to the United States and its allies. ATKs Mesa, Ariz. facility was awarded the contracts. Production will take place at the companys facilities in Lake City, Mo., Radford, Va., and Rocket Center, W.Va.
ATK produces more than eight million rounds of medium-caliber ammunition per year, including the air bursting rounds it developed for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and a complete suite of ammunition for ATKs new Lightweight 25mm chain gun.
