US soldiers load a Hydra-70 rocket into an AH-64D Longbow Apache during aerial gunnery. (US Army photo by Staff Sgt. True Thao)
WASHINGTON — The Army has awarded Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype agreements to four companies in a bid to increase production for the service’s Hydra-70 rockets, which are commonly fired from helicopters like the AH-64 Apache.
The four companies, which will specifically supply the M151 high-explosive fragmentation warheads for the rockets, are Firehawk, iRocket, Nammo Perry and Albers, according to a release published by the Program Acquisition Executive Fires on Wednesday. The prototype OTAs are aimed at increasing competitive pricing and surging industrial capacity, according to the service.
“This acquisition strategy secures vital industrial base surge capacity, ensuring the Army can swiftly meet emergent mission requirements and maintain uninterrupted readiness for Army lethality,” the release read.
The awards also give the vendors the opportunity to “improve the government owned Hydra-70 Technical Data Package (TDP),” per the release. A TDP consists of the technical design and manufacturing info, often including blueprints and other plans, that are used to produce or manufacture the platform.
