Bullet maker can't meet Army demand

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4763567.html
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Alliant Techsystems Inc., the Edina-based munitions maker that is the U.S. Army's sole supplier of bullets, said Thursday it can't keep up with demand from the Army, which is rising to its highest level since the Vietnam War.

Alliant made 1 billion rounds of small-caliber ammunition last year for the Army and will make 1.2 billion rounds this year. But the Army intends to set its annual requirement significantly higher, possibly as high as 2 billion rounds a year, and plans to look for a second supplier, Alliant Chief Executive Officer Daniel Murphy said.

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Murphy said that the Army's ammo demand could remain elevated for five years as the U.S. military, currently engaged in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, continues to fight terrorism

The economy is strong, things are looking up... </irony>

bullets since Afghanistan, and even then there is a shortage in Iraq and it has all but dried up "live fire" training prior to deployment