SACO – Forty-five overhaul kits for M2HB machine guns will be produced at the General Dynamics plant under a $21 million contract option from the Army Tank Automotive Command, the company announced Tuesday.

The option was exercised under a contract awarded to General Dynamics in September and brings the total contract value to $42 million. The option extends deliveries of the kits through June 2006.

The Army will use the 45 kits to overhaul a total of 4,500 of the heavy machine guns at the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.

The M2HB is a 12.7 mm machine gun with a rate of fire of more than 450 rounds per minute and a maximum effective range of 2,000 yards.

General Dynamics said its Burlington, Vt., facility will oversee production of the kits in Saco.