General Dynamics Awarded $12 Million by U.S. Navy for Aegis MK82 Illuminators

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 29

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products was recently awarded an $11.5 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the production of six Aegis MK82 Illuminators, which include the MK82 guided missile director and the MK200 controller systems. Production will begin in early 2011. The contract has a total potential value of $29.5 million, and deliveries will be completed by July 2013, if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

Awarded by Naval Sea Systems Command in September, the contract will create four new full-time jobs at General Dynamics' Burlington, Vt., facility, which has approximately 430 employees.  Program management, assembly and testing will be performed at the General Dynamics facility in Burlington, Vt.  

"The illuminator is a critical component of the Aegis Weapon System, the U.S. Navy's most advanced tactical radar defense and fire control system," said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.  "The Aegis Weapon System automatically detects, tracks and prioritizes threats and targets.  The illuminator enables the system to lock onto its targets and provides the terminal guidance to intercept missiles."  

General Dynamics has more than 30 years of experience in the design, production and technical support of the Aegis MK82 Illuminator.  The Aegis Weapon Systems will be installed aboard ships built under the restart of the DDG-51 shipbuilding program.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, located in Charlotte, N.C., provides a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications. The company designs, develops and produces high-performance weapon and armament systems, defensive armor, countermeasure systems and aerospace composite solutions, as well as off-road axle and suspension systems.  It is also a leading U.S. producer of biological and chemical detection systems.  More information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products can be found on the Internet at www.gdatp.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 90,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.  More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

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