Tuesday, November 18, 2008

General Dynamics handed $9M aircraft gun systems contract

By Mass High Tech Staff

General Dynamics Corp. reports it has landed $9 million from Lockheed Martin Corp. for aircraft gun systems.

Under two contracts, General Dynamics’ Armament and Technical Products division will produce GAU-22/A gun systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft at its Saco, Maine, facility. General Dynamics’ Burlington, Vt.-based Technology Center will manage the program. Production is scheduled to begin immediately and extend through August 2010.

The F-35 Lightning II internal gun system is based on a derivative of General Dynamics’ GAU-12/U 25mm Gatling gun, according to the company. It will be used on the F-35 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant and will include the GAU-22/A gun and its associated components.  General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) is also developing an external gun system for other variants of the F-35.

Last month, the defense contractor’s Armament and Technical Products unit landed $85 million from the U.S. Army for rockets and warheads. Under the two orders, General Dynamics will provide the Army’s Aviation and Missle Life Cycle Management Command with Hydra-70 rockets and warheads. The orders are part of a contract awarded in 2005 with a potential total value of $900 million. The company expects to start delivering the products in May 2010.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 91,200 people worldwide. The defense contractor reported a 2007 net income of $2.1 billion on revenue of $27.2 billion.