Breaking bombs

has been awarded a $30 million contract with four option years from the US Army for the demilitarisation of munitions.

This award culminates a winner-take-all competition to establish a long-term commercial provider of demilitarisation services. The total potential value of the contract is $191 million if all options are exercised.

The program involves demilitarising 54 different types of conventional ammunition within six munitions families: Cluster Bombs, HE Bombs, Improved Conventional Munitions (ICM), Propellant Charges, Explosive D Bombs and Pyrotechnics.

Ammunition demilitarisation is a process that involves the separation of the munitions' elements, such as explosives, metal parts and plastics. Usable components are reclaimed for reuse while the remaining elements are rendered safe for disposal.

General Dynamics, the world’s largest demilitarisation contractor, will function as the prime contractor and lead systems integrator.