Loral Aeronutronic: The company said Wednesday that...

Loral Aeronutronic: The company said Wednesday that it has won an $18-million contract to develop the Predator anti-tank weapon for the Army.

Loral Aeronutronic, a Rancho Santa Margarita division of New York-based Loral Corp., said it will produce 250 of the short-range, shoulder-fired missiles during the next four years for testing purposes. The contract has a potential value of $80 million.

The missile is designed to penetrate heavily armored tanks.