SACO – A General Dynamics plant has been awarded a contract to produce 1,097 grenade machine guns for the U.S. Army.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products announced Monday that the Army had awarded it a $14.7 million contract to produce the MK-19 grenade machine guns.

The weapons, capable of firing up to 400 grenades per minute, will be delivered beginning in June 2006.

General Dynamics’ Armament and Technical Products plant in Saco has produced more than 32,000 MK-19 systems since 1984, according to the company.

General Dynamics, based in Falls Church, Va., is also the owner of Bath Iron Works shipbuilder in Bath.