General Dynamics Completes Third Successful Guided-Rocket Flight Test
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today announced the third successful System Design and Development (SDD) flight test of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). Fired from a ground-based M260 rocket launcher, the guided 70mm rocket achieved a direct hit on a stationary, laser-designated target 1500 meters away. This was the third in a series of flight tests to demonstrate the basic rocket design’s effectiveness over the operational range.
The flight test, on December 2, 2003, was the first SDD flight test conducted from Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base by a government-industry team consisting of systems prime contractor, General Dynamics; guidance and control section provider, BAE Systems, Information and Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS); and the U.S. Army customer, PM Aviation, Rockets and Missiles. Earlier tests were conducted from the Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds at ranges of 5500 meters (September 2002) and 3000 meters (August 2003).
“This was our most difficult flight to date and the system performed within expected parameters for this launch, meeting all our test objectives,” stated Carol Frazier, Project Manager for Aviation Rockets and Missiles.
“This flight test demonstrates the effectiveness of the APKWS under the challenging timeline of short ranges,” said Frank Pope, director of Rocket and Tactical Systems at General Dynamics.
According to John Lydiard, president of Mission Electronics and general manager of BAE Systems IEWS, “The recent test shot with the BAE Systems Distributed Aperture Semi-Active Laser (DASALS) Seeker validates that the design is sound and well on its way to providing a low cost precision munition to the warfighters.”
Telemetry data from the launch will be used to update simulation models and adjust the guidance autopilot to support future flight-testing development next year.
APKWS system engineering and program management are performed at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' Burlington, Vermont, operations. Rocket production is performed at its Camden, Arkansas, and McHenry, Mississippi, operations.
BAE SYSTEMS Information & Electronic Warfare Systems (IEWS), Nashua, New Hampshire is a business unit of BAE SYSTEMS North America , a high-technology U.S. company dedicated to solving its customers’ needs with both highly innovative and leading-edge solutions across the defense electronics, systems, information technology and services arenas. IEWS employs 5,300 people at nine major facilities in six states. The business unit is a major producer of aircraft self-protection systems and tactical surveillance and intelligence systems for all branches of the armed forces. Other major business areas include microwave, mission and space electronics; infrared imaging; and automated mission planning systems.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products provides a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications. The company designs, develops and produces high-performance armament systems; a full range of advanced composite-based products; biological and chemical detection systems; and mobile shelter systems. More information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products can be found on the World Wide Web at www.gdatp.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 67,600 people worldwide and had 2003 revenues of $16.6 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 - Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Press Contact: (704) 714-8014
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