Afghan Ammo Orders
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Readers may recall “AEY’s Ammunition: Ain’t An April Fools, Alas”, which detailed a $300 million contract to a Miami company, who delivered ammunition that was not up to standard and is charged with sourcing its stock illegally. Now, more established firms like ATK and General Dynamics are stepping into the breach.
They are not the only firm receiving contracts for “non-standard” ammunition. By “nonstandard,” the military means non-NATO standard, such as the 7.62×39mm caliber used by rifles like the AK-47 and its copies around the world. Other common options include the 7.62×54mm (used in Dragunov sniper rifles and PKM machine guns), and 12.7×108mm (as opposed to NATO’s .50 BMG 12.7×99mm). Even RPG-7 rocket rounds have been specified in these contracts.
The latest developments include $150 million in contracts for Afghan and American forces…
Contracts and Key Events:
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Sept 30/09: Fresh from helping to find water on the moon, Alliant Tech Systems Inc. in Independence, MO receives a $105.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for non-standard ammunition, to supply both for the government of Afghanistan and American Forces. The contract also has options which can exercised later.
Work is to be performed in Independence, MO, with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/12. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web, with 3 bids received by Army Contracting Command (ACC) Rock Island Contracting Center in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-09-C-0060).
Sept 30/09: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in St. Petersburg, FL received a $44.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for non-standard ammunition, to supply both for the government of Afghanistan and American Forces. The contract also has options which can exercised later.
Work is to be performed in St. Petersburg, FL, with an estimated completion date of Sept 30/12. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web, with 3 bids received by Army Contracting Command (ACC) Rock Island Contracting Center in Rock Island, IL(W52P1J-09-C-0061).
Jan 23/09: Agility Logistics subsidiary Taos Industries in Madison, AL received a $5.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for Non Standard Ammunition for the Government of Afghanistan. These include PG-7VM 70.5mm rockets, 12.7×108 mm links for heavy machine guns, and 12.7×108mm PPL (the PPL round is a squib cartridge used to generate gas pressure to forward the chamber one round). The contract has a “200 percent option,” which means it could be worth up to $16.8 million.
Work will be performed at Madison, AL, with an estimated completion date of March 31/09. Two bids were solicited and one bid was received by the Army Contracting Command at Rock Island Arsenal, IL (W52P1J-08-C-0049).
Dec 8/08: Top American ammunition supplier Alliant Techsystems, Inc in Independence, MO recently received an $86.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for 94.6 million rounds of various nonstandard ammunition for the Afghanistan national Army and Afghanistan National Police. Work will be performed in Independence, MO with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. Bids solicited were via the Web and 14 bids were received by Army Research Sustainment Command at Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-09-C-0007).
ATK’s release says that they have:
”...worked to identify, qualify, and integrate a team of international manufacturers…. Under this contract, Team ATK will provide the technical and supply chain management expertise necessary to mitigate supply chain risks that could impede, or prevent, the continuous flow of compliant non-standard ammunition to our Afghan allies. ATK will utilize capable international manufacturers and distributors with the ability to supply non-standard small, medium, large caliber ammunition and rockets.”
