February 28, 2006 7:45 PM

HAVE DU WILL TRAVEL

Army Orders $77 Million Worth Of New DU Rounds

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Army has extended a previous order for 120-mm ammunition for its main battle tank to $77 million, it was announced last week.

Alliant Techsystems revealed that the original contract for M829A3 tank rounds had been extended for fiscal year 2006 by $38 million, increasing the number of rounds to 35,000.

This type of round, which is based on a depleted uranium penetrator, has been described as the most advanced armor-piercing kinetic-energy ordnance available, with outstanding accuracy and lethality.

Although critics claim that radiation from depleted uranium is a potential health hazard to tank crews and to individuals exposed to the material upon impact with its target, the military says that the heavy depleted uranium is not only a superb armor-piercer, but is a hardener for the Abrams’ armor.