09:02 GMT, November 16, 2011 CHARLOTTE, N.C. | General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a $6.9 million contract by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to produce approximately 600 M2 heavy barrel (M2HB) machine guns. This is the seventh delivery order awarded to General Dynamics since the company received an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract from the Army in 2009.

"Fielded with military forces worldwide, the M2 machine gun has a well-deserved reputation as a highly accurate, effective weapon," said Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "These new M2s will continue to serve U.S. warfighters well into the future."

Production work will be completed at the General Dynamics facility in Saco, Maine, which employs over 400 people and has manufactured M2 machine guns since 1979. The production work for the new delivery order will be completed in the spring of 2012. Program management will be performed at General Dynamics' Williston Technology Center in Williston, Vt.