Bushmaster Firearms of Windham was awarded a $4 million contract to manufacture 5,631 assault rifles for the U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Army is in charge of purchasing weapons for the other military branches and although the weapons will be used by the Navy, the Army was in charge awarding of the contract.

“I am pleased that the Army has awarded this contract to a Maine company,” said Sen. Susan Collins. “The Army continues to look at Bushmaster for state of the art equipment on which our military relies.

It is expected to take until Dec. 31, 2010 for Bushmaster to build and distribute the M16A3 assault rifles. If the contract is renewed in the future it could fetch the Windham business $18.25 million.

Bushmaster Headquarters are located on Roosevelt Trail in Windham and the company employs more than 140 people.