General Dynamics announces ammunition contracts

General Dynamics has announced that it has been awarded three contracts worth $97 million by the US Army Contracting Commands, Picatinny Arsenal and Rock Island, for the manufacture and delivery of 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 company announced the contracts 4 June, 2012.

The M865 Target Practice, Cone Stabilised, Discarding Sabot-Tracer (TPCSDS-T) ammunition is used in the 120mm smooth-bore M256 cannon of Army and US Marine Corps Abrams main battle tanks. The M865 is designed to simulate the characteristics of live 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. This modern munition recently achieved full material release and has 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 both Iraq and Afghanistan.

General Dynamics said work is expected to be complete in February 2013 for the 155mm artillery ammunition, April 2014 for the 105mm artillery ammunition and September 2016 for the 120 tank ammunition.