Maker of Body Armor Gets Army Contract

Ceradyne Inc., a maker of lightweight ceramic body armor, received a five-year U.S. Army contract worth as much as $611.7 million for insert panels to protect soldiers’ sides. Its shares surged $3.20 to $52.69.

The Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland put in an initial delivery order worth $59.8 million, Ceradyne said in a statement.

The company expects to receive the next order late this year.

Costa Mesa-based Ceradyne has bolstered production of the armor at plants in California and Kentucky.