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Service Based Architecture Approach is Key to General Dynamics Decision Systems Selection for FCS Awards

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – General Dynamics Decision Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been selected to enter negotiations toward contracts to lead two major command and control system integration packages and subcontract on a third on the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, being led by Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Science Applications International Corporations (SAIC).

The General Dynamics Decision Systems team will lead the Planning and Preparation Services (PPS) and Sensor Data Management (SDM) assignments for FCS, and will team with Lockheed Martin ORINCON Defense on the ISR Sensor Fusion portion of the program. The three awards have a potential combined value of up to $110 million.

In each assignment, General Dynamics Decision Systems will apply its expertise in designing and deploying a service based architecture (SBA) command and control backbone, a key FCS program requirement. A service based architecture is a software design that enables authorized users to “discover and subscribe” to networked services on the move. This approach allows client devices to be small, highly mobile and easily configured for changing missions or operational requirements.

With an SBA approach a unit could, for example, perform air space, maneuvers and “fires and effects” tactical planning in a collaborative environment on a variety of platforms, regardless of physical location and without the need to download and run large applications.

The PPS program is the largest of the three won by General Dynamics Decision Systems. "PPS is a perfect fit for General Dynamics' investment in systems architecture development," said Manny Mora, a vice president for General Dynamics Decision Systems. "Over the past four years, we committed our best talent toward the design and demonstration of a service based architecture. The General Dynamics vision of a foundational technology for command and control is very relevant for the future force."

General Dynamics Decision Systems subcontractors on the PPS program include Austin Information Systems, Applied Data Trends, Alphatech, BBN Technologies, Viecore FSD, Northrop Grumman TASC and General Dynamics Robotic Systems. Lockheed Martin ORINCON Defense is a member of the company’s SDM team.

General Dynamics Decision Systems, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a leader in products and systems for information assurance, interoperability and command and control/battlefield management for defense and industrial customers in the U.S. and abroad.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 57,000 people worldwide and anticipates 2003 revenues of $15 billion. The company has leading market positions in mission-critical information systems and technologies, land and amphibious combat systems, 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 -Monday, July 21, 2003
Press Contact: (480) 441-2885