ATK [ATK] yesterday announced it will continue to operate the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) for an additional four years under a contract from the Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, Rock Island, Ill.
“ATK offers proven capabilities in facility management, efficient manufacturing, and innovative product development,” ATK Armament Systems President Mark DeYoung, said in a statement, “and this contract is a recognition of our expertise and our performance in these areas. We’re proud to have the opportunity to continue to focus on meeting the needs of the customer and our nation’s fighting forces.”
Under the new contract, ATK will continue to supply small-caliber ammunition through September 2013.
In 2007, the Army began discussing an extension of ATK’s operation at Lake City, and over time the nature of the work and time involved changed, resulting in the April 2 announcement (Defense Daily, Dec. 20, 2007).
The award assures an uninterrupted supply of ammunition to the U.S. military beyond ATK’s current 10-year contract.
The Army also awarded ATK $481 million in orders under the new contract for production of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50-caliber ammunition and to continue work to modernize the Lake City facility.
ATK began operating the plant, located in Independence, Mo., in April 2000 and has increased production from 350 million to more than 1.4 billion rounds annually. The plant has the capability to produce a mix of 5.56mm, 7.62mm, .50-caliber, and 20mm cartridges, as well as ammunition links.