General Dynamics wins $19 million contract from U.S. Army for MK19 grenade machine guns production

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded a $13 million order by U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC for the production of MK19 grenade machine guns. Deliveries are expected to begin in June 2010 and will be completed by late 2011. The order was made under a contract initially awarded in September 2008, and brings the total contract value to date to approximately $81 million. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics. According to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products gun systems program manager, Jeffrey Gramse, "The MK19 has been in service for over 20 years, providing lethal fire against a variety of targets. The weapon's accuracy and versatility provides the U.S. Armed Forces options for use in both offensive and defensive operations". Production work will be performed at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' Saco, Maine, facility using its existing workforce. Program management will be performed in Saco with support from the company's Burlington, Vt.-based Technology Center. The General Dynamics facility in Saco is the company's production site for single- and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems. The site provides complete production capabilities, from design and development to manufacturing, testing and integration.