Friday, January 9, 2009

Raytheon, General Dynamics in $18M gun contract

By Mass High Tech staff

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products reports it has landed $18 million from Raytheon Co. for gun systems to be used by the U.S. Navy ships.

Under the contract, the Burlington, Vt.-based General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) division will produce gun systems for the Phalanx Block 1B Close-In-Weapon System (CIWS) and the Centurion Land-Based Phalanx CIWS.

The Phalanx is an autonomous, radar-directed, rapid-fire 20 mm Gatling-gun system used against threats including anti-ship missiles, aircraft, high-speed watercraft and other air and surface threats. The upgrade adds enhanced fire control capability, optimized gun barrels and an integrated forward-looking infrared system.

In the Centurion configuration, a Phalanx Block 1B CIWS is mounted on a stabilized wheeled platform to protect ground forces and high-value sites against rocket, artillery and mortar threats.

The gun systems will be produced at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ facility in Saco, Maine, with program management performed at the company’s site in Burlington. Testing will be conducted at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vt.

Last month, another General Dynamics unit, New London, Conn.-based Electric Boat has landed $14 billion from the Navy for the construction of eight submarines.

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.