PHOENIX -- Two Phoenix-area manufacturers could pick up as much as $42 million in new military body-armor plate orders from the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Pentagon announced this week it will buy hard-armor plates that fit inside soldiers' vests from Chandler-based ArmorWorks Enterprises and Rockville, Md.-based BAE Systems.
BAE makes its plates at facilities in Phoenix.
If the military exercises all options, ArmorWorks' contract could make $21.6 million and BAE's contract could reach $20.3 million.
BAE and ArmorWorks are among the military's biggest body-armor suppliers.
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