ATK received orders totaling more than $488 million for small caliber ammunition pursuant to an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island (ACC-RI).
This order includes a mix of 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and .50 caliber military ammunition to be produced at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Montana.
ATK is the world's leading producer of small-caliber military and commercial ammunition. The company successfully partnered with the Army to design and produce the new 5.56mm cartridge known to the U.S. war fighter as the Enhanced Performance Round (EPR).
"This latest set of orders includes an increase in the demand for the new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round, which is getting very positive reviews by the war fighter," explained ATK Small Caliber Systems Vice President and General Manager Mark Hissong. "We've produced more than 100 million rounds of the M855A1 EPR since transitioning it into full-rate production last year. We will increase EPR production rates this year as we complete the modernization of high-speed, high-volume 5.56mm production equipment used to manufacture this new high performance round."
Earlier this week, ATK received awards totaling $13.4 million in new 25mm tactical ammunition contracts from a mix of allies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
ATK also received a $110 million contract from Lockheed Martin to produce composite components for low rate initial production (LRIP) Lots 5 through 9 of the F-35 Lightning II - Joint Strike Fighter. The contract includes production of multiple components through the LRIP 9 phase of the program.
Under the terms of the contract, ATK will use advanced hand lay-up processing techniques to manufacture upper fixed aft skins for both the carrier variant (CV) and short-take off/vertical landing (STOVL) variant, upper access covers on the CV and conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant, and the upper access center covers for the STOVL variant. Production will take place at ATK's Clearfield, Utah facility beginning in 2011 continuing through 2015.
ATK began F-35 production in October 2002 with a System Design and Development contract for 19 ship sets of the one-piece, 35-foot composite upper wing skin. The company has delivered over 850 wing skin components to date through LRIP Lot 4. During this contract the company will increase production rates from three ship sets per month to more than eight ship sets per month.
In addition to this contract award, ATK manufactures several other composite structures for the F-35, including the seven-piece upper wing skin, lower wing skins, engine nacelle skins, inlet ducts, and the upper wing strap using both automated fiber placement and hand lay-up techniques. ATK's composite manufacturing expertise has contributed to the F-35 since the development phase of the program.
The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.
