New company formed for U.S. Army contract INDEPENDENCE, Mo., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A U.S. Army contract for running its ammunition plant in Missouri is being pursued by U.S. Munitions LLC, a new joint venture company. The company is a venture of BAE Systems Ordnance Systems and Winchester Ammunition, a division of the Olin Corp. "The experience and capabilities of BAE Systems and Winchester Ammunition will allow U.S. Munitions to offer the Army a solid track record of partnering with military customers at government-owned and contractor-operated facilities like the Lake City plant, and bring an exceptional history of performance and accountability in meeting the military's needs for small-caliber ammunition, which Lake City produces," the parent companies said in a news statement. The Army is expected to issue a contract -- with a potential value of $2 billion in sales over 10 years -- by October. Work on the award would begin after a 12-month management transition period, the companies said. The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, built in 1941, has been operated by Alliant Techsystems since 2001.