Non-Standard Ammo Orders for Iraq
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June 11/09: Agility Logistics subsidiary Taos Industries Inc. in Huntsville, AL won a $30.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for 33,400,938 rounds of “various non standard ammunition” for the Republic of Iraq. Work is to be performed in Huntsville, AL until Oct 29/10. Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web, with 3 bids received by the Rock Island Contracting Center in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-09-C-0026). See also firm release.
Taos has also been contracted by Rock Island to supply “non-standard” ammunition to Afghan Army forces, in the wake of the AEY scandal. In these cases, “non-standard” means non-NATO standard. The Soviet caliber 7.62×39 ammunition used in AK-47 type assault rifles would qualify; Iraq is phasing them out in favor of the American 5.56mm M4 carbine, but Iraqi forces operates some. Likewise, the 7.62×54mm ammunition used in Iraq’s Dragunov sniper rifles and PKM light machine guns is a non-NATO caliber, and hence “non standard.” In Afghanistan, Taos is also supplying 12.7×108 mm ammunition for Soviet heavy machine guns, and 70.5mm PG-7VM rocket propelled grenades.

