HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's IMP Electronic Systems has been awarded a $2.74 million subcontract as part of a $1.06 billion upgrade of the Canadian Army's light armoured vehicles.

The contract, one of several recently awarded across the country by General Dynamics Land Systems, was announced today at IMP's Hammonds Plains plant by Defence Minister Peter MacKay.

IMP will build the LAV III's cable and wiring harnesses, which will be used in the vehicle's chassis to power various subsystems.

Ottawa announced the program to overhaul 550 of the vehicles in October 2011.

The program's goal is to extend the life of the vehicles to 2035.