General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) has signed a $218-million task order to support the production of 155-millimeter M1128 Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) artillery rounds for the US Army.
The agreement is part of an almost $1-billion firm-fixed-price contract signed in September awarded to the company and Iowa-based ammunition supplier American Ordnance.
OTS received a similar contract earlier this year to produce M795 LAP rounds. This separate project, valued at $993.7 million, ordered roughly 20,000 rounds per month.
Combined, the M1128 and M795 contracts will provide the army with approximately 50,000 LAP rounds per month until 2025.
Improving Artillery Production
According to OTS, funding from the latest contract will boost the fabrication of M1128 LAPs by establishing a manufacturing facility in Camden, Arkansas.
The site will use air-cooling technology and other advanced processes to enhance production efficiency and the quality of the projectiles.
The facility will develop other capabilities to sustain “environmentally responsible methods to reduce hazardous waste” throughout the production, OTS noted.
“We are proud to be expanding our role as a key industrial partner for the US Army, as it plans and manages efforts to increase and accelerate US artillery production,” General Dynamics OTS General Manager and Senior Vice President Kevin Fahey stated.
Ammo for Ukraine
Both LAP contracts followed a decision by the US to supply 155-millimeter ammunition to Ukraine.
Announced last February, the contract addresses the depletion of US and allied artillery shell stockpiles in support of Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems and Global Military Products and is funded by the US Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
