General Dynamics C4 Systems to Provide Integrated Command and Control Capability for the U.K. Army's Digitization Program
TAUNTON, Mass. – General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been selected to provide the primary command and control (C2) system and integrated battlefield command system to the United Kingdom Army’s new digitization program.
Under the $450 million U.K. Digitization contract awarded to General Dynamics UK on Nov. 7, General Dynamics C4 Systems received a $32 million modification to its BOWMAN contract to deliver more than 13,000 networked, integrated battle command software systems beginning in March 2003.
Called the Common Battlefield Application Toolset (ComBAT) Infrastructure and Platform, the General Dynamics system provides common services, information management and situational awareness for U.K. ground forces. ComBAT is the core battlefield information-system application (BISA) into which other functional BISAs will be integrated to form a unified battle command system. ComBAT will be deployed using the U.K.’s new BOWMAN digital voice and data communications system, which provides a secure, mobile, dynamic networked communications infrastructure to support operations of more than 20,000 vehicles and 70,000 personnel.
“This is a significant win that firmly positions General Dynamics C4 Systems as a worldwide provider of integrated command and control systems,” said Jerry DeMuro, president, General Dynamics C4 Systems.
“From a C4ISR perspective,” DeMuro continued, “the complexity of the U.K. Army digitization program rivals that of the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, and our participation in the United Kingdom’s effort will give us unparalleled experience in integrating battle command systems using self-healing, high-bandwidth mobile networks for the tactical environment.”
ComBAT provides the information infrastructure for integrating fire control, intelligence, combat service support, airspace management and other information systems. ComBAT also includes automatic dynamic networking, information management, and support for data distribution, planning, collaboration and execution. General Dynamics C4 Systems is teamed with Saab Systems of Australia and Cranfield University of England on the ComBAT program.
The BOWMAN system, being developed and deployed by General Dynamics’ United Kingdom subsidiary, comprises radio communications systems that are connected to form a tactical internet; a range of computers that provide messaging, situation awareness and battle management information; local area subsystems that connect users within a vehicle or group of vehicles being deployed as a unit; and connections to trunk, satellite and strategic communications systems.
Under the BOWMAN contract, General Dynamics C4 Systems is also developing the Battlefield Situational Awareness Module (BSAM) and will deliver nearly 30,000 software systems. BSAM provides the common relevant operating picture, messaging infrastructure, and battle command services that form the basis for ComBAT.
General Dynamics C4 Systems provides secure command, control, computing, communication and information solutions that integrate custom-developed and commercial off-the-shelf products for the military and commercial markets. It designs, integrates, and supports strategic and tactical battlefield communication systems, worldwide. It has pioneered automated approaches to mission planning; battlespace management; targeting/fire support; mapping, charting and geodesy and simulation for its military and commercial customers. It also provides environmentally hardened and special packaging of computer equipment and peripherals for both customer segments.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 54,000 people worldwide and anticipates 2002 revenues of $14 billion. The company has leading market positions in land and amphibious combat systems, mission-critical information systems and technologies, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation.
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Any "forward-looking statements" contained in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
General Dynamics Corporation (ticker: GD, exchange: NYSE)
News Release - Thursday, November 14, 2002
Press Contact: (508) 880-1636
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