General Dynamics awarded $46m for 120mm tank cartridges
The US Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, Ill., has awarded General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, a $46 million contract for the manufacture and delivery of 120mm M865 TPCSDS-T and M1002 TPMP-T tank cartridges.
The M865 Target Practice, Cone Stablilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer (TPCSDS-T) cartridge is used in the 120mm smooth bore M256 cannon of Army and Marine Corps Abrams main battle tanks. The M865 practice cartridge is designed to simulate the performance 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 M865 and M1002 provide realistic, cost-effective training without the use of high-explosive ammunition," said Dr. Dean Bartles, vice president and general manager of large-caliber, "General Dynamics has a long legacy in producing tank ammunition and we are extremely pleased to provide continuing support to the armored forces with this high performance training ammunition."
Work will be performed in Middletown, Iowa. Work is expected to be complete by October 31, 2012.
Source: General Dynamics
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