OREANDA-NEWS. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), recently was awarded several U.S. government contracts with a total value of more than USD 113 million for a variety of ammunition products and a munition system.

The U.S. Marine Corps System Command (MARCORSYSCOM) awarded General Dynamics a USD 26.5 million engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract for the Mission Payload Module - Non-Lethal Weapon System (MPM-NLWS). This system provides counter-personnel and graduated-response options for scenarios involving crowd control, access or area denial, convoy operations or direct-threat engagement. The system, designed to be mounted on Marine Corps vehicles such as the HUMMWV, allows operators to selectively vary the intensity of MPM-NLWS munitions' effects to match operational requirements. The contract was awarded to the company's Orlando Operations. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and is expected to be completed by May 2016.

In addition, the U.S. Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., awarded General Dynamics a USD 31 million contract for the first production option of a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for 40mm L/60 HEI cartridges. The contract was awarded through the Canadian Commercial Corporation. The L/60 HEI cartridge is fired from the 40mm M2A1 cannon for air-to-surface engagements by the U.S. Air Force's AC-130 gunship aircraft.

The L/60 HEI cartridge is filled with high explosive and incendiary composition and provides improved accuracy, on-target performance and safety features. Work will be performed by the company's Canadian operations and is expected to be completed by September 2015.

The Army Sustainment Command also awarded the company several 20mm and 30mm production contracts valued in excess of USD 55 million. These 20mm and 30mm ammunition contracts will provide both tactical and training ammunition used on a variety of Navy, Air Force and Army platforms. The work will be performed in Marion, Ill., and will be completed by December 2015.

"These contract awards demonstrate our commitment to meeting the evolving needs of U.S. warfighters with responsive and affordable munition solutions," said Tim Bagniefski, vice president of marketing and business development for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.  "Both the MPM-NLWS and the 40mm L/60 ammunition awards represent long-term opportunities to provide new products to domestic and international customers."