The US Navy has awarded an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract to ATK to deliver 30mm MK266 ammunition for use with the MK46 Mod 2 gun weapon system.
Under the $41m firm-fixed-price five-year contract, the company will supply the navy with 30mmx173mm MK266 high-explosive incendiary with trace cartridges in MK15 linked belts.
Comprising ATK’s MK44, 30mm Bushmaster automatic cannon, the gun weapon system is fitted onboard US Navy’s San Antonio-class landing platform dock (LPD) ships and littoral combat ships (LCS), while the ammunition enhances its performance at extended ranges.
The modified PGU-13 high-explosive incendiary 30mm round, MK266 ammunition features tracer and non-self-destruct low-drag fuse and can be used for any type of cannon that fires 30mmx173mm ammunition.
ATK’s armament systems division vice president and general manager Bruce DeWitt said: "Our medium-calibre expertise includes a full spectrum of highly effective and accurate tactical ammunition for air, ground and sea platforms, as well as cost-effective training ammunition that provides a realistic experience for the warfighter."
Work under the contract will be carried out at Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, West Virginia, and New River Energetics in Radford, Virginia, with deliveries expected to start in 2014.
With a potential value of $12m for the first year, the navy will exercise the remaining awards in the multi-year contract up to 2018.
The Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM MAS) has awarded the contract, which manages ammunition procurement for all the US armed services and serves as the single manager for conventional ammunition (SMCA).
Image: US Navy’s San Antonio-class ship conducting mission at sea. Photo: file image.
