The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Columbia’s FN America a new $119 million contract to manufacture the military’s front-line assault rifles, according to the DoD website.
The Belgium-based company located off Old Clemson Road in northeast Columbia is contracted to manufacture more than 167,000 M4 and M4A1 carbines for the next five years.
FN officials could not be reached for comment.
FN, which manufactures weapons and ammunition for a wide spectrum of police agencies, security contractors and others, has been churning out guns and ammo for the U.S. military since 2003.
In 2015, it landed a $77-million U.S. military contract to produce 120,000 weapons, according to the department.
The company also produces ammunition as well as pistols, shotguns and other tactical weapons and parts for the military and civilian agencies, according to its website.
FN America is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
FN America, which opened its Columbia plant in 1979, is a subsidiary of Belgium’s Fabrique Nationale Herstal, which is also the parent company of Browning International.
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