American Ordnance LLC to supply US Army with Mine Clearing Line Charge systems.

On 25 September, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that American Ordnance LLC, Middletown, Iowa, was awarded a $23,178,756 firm-fixed-price contract for Mine Clearing Line Charge systems. Work will be performed in Middletown, Iowa, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2020.

Panther Brigade engineers will clearing an obstacle with a Mine Clearing Charge (MICLIC) (Picture source: DVIDS)

American Ordnance LLC, the operator of the Milan and Iowa Army Ammunition Plants, produces the M58 and M59 Mine Clearing Charge (MICLIC) for the U.S. Military and other State Department approved customers. 

The M58 and M59 Mine Clearing Linear Charge consist of 700 charge assemblies assembled to a nylon rope. The rope assembly is coiled inside a metal container that can be trailer mounted for transport. Engineer units employ the MICLIC in response to minefield breaching requirements. It is effective against conventionally fuzed mines and when detonated provides a lane 8 meters by 100 meters. The charge is 350 feet long and contains 5 pounds per linear foot of Comp C-4 explosive.