Esterline to provide training rounds to the Army’s DNT 40mm grenade program

Esterline Defense Technologies won a contract to supply critical sub-components for training ammunition on the U.S. Army’s new Day/Night/Thermal (DNT) 40mm grenade program. The multi-year contract was awarded by American Ordnance and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

The contract is the culmination of a five-year development program. Esterline Defense Technologies completed the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the competition in 2016, delivering more than 15,000 prototype payloads that were rigorously tested at the Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

The company improved the product design with a payload upgrade for the 40X46mm low-velocity Mk781 training round and the 40X53mm high-velocity Mk918 round. This payload design enhances training realism, is more environmentally responsible and improves range safety, significantly reducing the hazard of unexploded ordnance in the field during training exercises.

Esterline expects to begin low-rate initial production on the contract in late 2018.