LIMA, Ohio — General Dynamics Corp. has been awarded an additional $40 million worth of work in Lima to upgrade Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

General Dynamics said the work is an extension of work started in 2008 to modernize Saudi battle tanks. It won’t mean any new jobs in Lima, but it does provide some job security for the workers there. The defense contractor said the work should be done by July 31, 2014.

The plant had been targeted by the Pentagon for a temporary shutdown starting this year, but Congress has approved enough money to keep U.S. orders flowing through at least 2014. The plant employs about 700 people.

General Dynamics is based in Sterling Heights, Mich.

First Published April 4, 2013, 12:47 a.m.