The U.S. Army has awarded Winchester, the largest manufacturer of small-caliber ammunition for the U.S. military, with a contract to manufacture, test and deliver 5 million 6.8 mm Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) cartridges. Production will take place at the Lake City Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) in Independence, MO, which is the United States’ only government-owned, contractor-operated small-caliber ammunition facility. Value of the agreement was not released and, as this article was being posted, still unavailable on the Department of Defense contracts web page.
“The award of Lake City’s first production order of the 6.8 mm NGSW cartridge represents several years of hard work, dedication, and collaboration between Winchester, the U.S. Army, and industry partners,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester. “The Winchester team is honored to have been entrusted with the opportunity and responsibility of producing the ammunition which will keep our nation safe for years to come.”
Last week’s announcement comes less than a year after Winchester was selected to design the NGSW cartridge-making facility at LCAAP in a $15 million cost-plus contract. Winchester assumed management at the famed factory in 2020, which encompasses nearly 4,000 acres. The plant began operations in 1940 and today employs somewhere around 2,000 people.
The 6.8 mm NGSW cartridges will, at least for the time being, come out of LCAAP at the same time 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO and .50 BMG are being manufactured on different lines. Winchester was awarded a second-source contract valued at $51 million for that production only last June.
Winchester is the largest small-caliber ammunition enterprise in the world and the leader in delivering innovative ammunition products to hunters, sport shooters, law enforcement and the U.S. Warfighter. The 157-year-old Winchester brand is built on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its loyal customers.
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