HUNT VALLEY, Md. --- United Industrial Corporation announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary AAI Corporation has been awarded $1.2 million by the U.S. Army for the first phase of a potential three-phase effort valued at about $24 million to develop a Lightweight Machine Gun and Ammunition (LMGA).
The contract will focus on development of a family of high-performance, lightweight weapons utilizing advanced technology ammunition. The program is intended to replace existing light-caliber and medium-caliber machine guns.
In the first of three phases, AAI and another contractor will develop virtual prototypes for the weapons and ammunition. The companies will recommend the weapon and ammunition configurations that would be the basis for the second phase of the program. After the initial research and development phase, the Army is expected to select a single contractor to continue work on the second and third phases of the LMGA program.
AAI’s Defense Systems unit is experienced in armament and ammunition technologies and has been involved in many U.S. Army small arms development programs over the past 50 years. The new LMGA program enables the company to expand its presence in the development of innovative, advanced technology small arms that will enhance the combat effectiveness of U.S. soldiers.
United Industrial Corporation is a company focused on the design and production of defense and training systems. In addition to unmanned aerial vehicles, its products include training and simulation systems, automated aircraft test and maintenance equipment, and logistical/engineering services for government-owned equipment. The company also manufactures combustion equipment for biomass and refuse fuels.
