ATK Remains USA’s Main Small Arms Ammo Supplier: FY 2013-2022
A single plant, dating from World War 2, still provides almost all of the US military’s small arms ammunition (up to 12.7mm). The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri has been operated by ATK for a long time, and was the USA’s only facility until recently. Ammunition shortages forced the Army to add General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in St Petersburg, FL as a limited 2nd supplier in 2005. That effort went hand-in-hand with modernization at Lake City, however, and even if orders escalated to 2 billion rounds per year, GD-OTS would provide only 300-500 million of those rounds.
In 2012, the US Army competed the management contract for Lake City, and Alliant Techsystem Operations LLC in Independence, MO won the contract again. The totals really add up.
The award will provide for both small caliber rifle ammunition orders and for the operation, maintenance and modernization of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. The initial contract period is 7 years, and if all award terms are exercised, the contracts could reach a maximum total of $8.48 billion over a 10-year period, extending to the end of FY 2022.
The bid was solicited through the Internet, with 2 bids received by the US Army Contracting Command in Rock Island, IL (W52P1J-12-D-0078). See also ATK release.
Note that ATK also supplies small arms ammunition orders for other US government agencies. Recent orders for 1.2 billion rounds from the much small Department of Homeland Security, which could rise to 1.4 billion rounds very soon, are generating a lot more concern. As Major General Jerry Curry, USA (Ret.) puts it, “Who Does The Government Intend To Shoot?“
