ATK awarded $49m special operations ammunition contract
Alliant Techsystems announced today that it has received a $49 million contract from the US Navy to produce a new special operations ammunition round with improved accuracy, stronger barrier penetration, and a lower muzzle-flash. ATK Security and Sporting developed the round in partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center - Crane Division under the Special Operations Science and Technology (SOST) ammunition program.
The SOST ammunition will be manufactured in 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm calibers, and is short-barrel optimized. It is designed for use with the MK16 and MK17 Special Operations Combat Assault Rifle Weapon System. Production will be performed at ATK's Federal Premium Ammunition plant in Anoka, MN. Deliveries are expected to be completed in 2015.
"ATK is the clear leader in developing new ammunition technologies for cookmmercial use," said Ron Johnson, President of ATK's Security and Sporting group. "We are now applying our research and development capability to satisfy the needs of our special operation forces."
The new SOST 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition adds to ATK's portfolio of specialized ammunition, including long-range products for both law enforcement and military applications.
Source: ATK
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![First NATO exercise of 2025 set to begin with others to quickly follow]()
First NATO exercise of 2025 set to begin with others to quickly follow
Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 (STDT25) kicks off a slate of six land and sea exercises NATO is conducting in the first half of this year.
-
![Elbit Systems awarded $60 million contract to supply CUAS to NATO European country]()
Elbit Systems awarded $60 million contract to supply CUAS to NATO European country
The company's ReDrone Counter-UAS solution will sit at the heart of the contract.
-
![Rheinmetall awarded contract to supply Gepard 35mm ammunition to Ukraine]()
Rheinmetall awarded contract to supply Gepard 35mm ammunition to Ukraine
Ukraine is operating ex-German Army Gepard air-defence guns donated more than two years ago.
-
![Italy set to begin evaluation of KF41 IFV]()
Italy set to begin evaluation of KF41 IFV
The KF41 is entering service in Hungary and a version of it is in the running to meet the US XM30 requirement. An order from Italy could be for as many as 1,050 vehicles.
-
![Egypt approved for $4.7 billion upgrade of its Abrams main battle tanks]()
Egypt approved for $4.7 billion upgrade of its Abrams main battle tanks
The approval is for the upgrade of 555 of Egypt’s M1A1 Abrams tanks into M1A1SA configuration.
-
![British soldiers successfully complete anti-drone EW test firing]()
British soldiers successfully complete anti-drone EW test firing
The system beams radio waves to disrupt or damage the critical electronic components of enemy vehicles causing them to stop in their tracks or fall out of the sky. It has been described as costing only £0.10 (US$0.12) per shot.
