ATK said Monday it has received a $36 million order from the U.S. Army to produce training ammunition for tanks.

The 120mm training ammunition is used by the M1A1/A2 Abrams main battle tank. The company's Plymouth-based facility will provide program management and systems engineering support for the project, which will last for a year, with four, one-year terms to follow, based on an evaluation.

The training rounds closely replicate tactical ammunition in appearance and ballistic performance, Arlington, Va.-based ATK said in a news release. This provides soldiers with an "affordable, yet realistic, training performance."

"High-quality training ammunition is essential to helping our warfighters prepare for mission success," said Brue DeWitt, vice president and general manager for ATK's Armament Systems division.

Since 1980, ATK has delivered more than four million rounds of 120mm tactical and training tank ammunition to the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and allied militaries.

Production of the training ammunition will occur at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in Rocket Center, W.Va.

JANET MOORE