General Dynamics Announces Revised Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Work Site
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announces that the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, formerly known as the Lima Army Tank Plant, in Lima, Ohio, will be the main assembly site for the U. S. Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).
“We will consolidate the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle’s fabrication, assembly and land testing at Lima, Ohio enabling us to meet our cost and schedule targets,” said Richard Gillette, General Dynamics Land Systems senior vice president – production, delivery and support. We are extremely grateful for the support offered by the state of Ohio, members of the United Automobile Workers and plant management as we worked to develop a comprehensive strategy for production of this complex combat system. Selection of the Joint Services Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, provides the best competitive solution to the requirements of the U.S. Marine Corps.”
Last year the Lima, Ohio, plant was selected to fabricate EFV structures, which is now being expanded to include final assembly and land testing. The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center is a government-owned, General Dynamics-operated facility fabricates and assembles armored combat vehicles, has a 1.5 mile oval test track and on-site rail yard.
The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle is the Marine Corps’ highest priority ground combat modernization program. Its breakthrough amphibious design provides outstanding cross-country mobility, lethal firepower, high water speed and optimum crew protection and survivability. EFV provides the elements of flexibility and tactical surprise critical to establishing battlefield dominance.
General Dynamics Land Systems won the competition in June 1996 to develop and build the U.S. Marine Corps’ new EFV. The program calls for the delivery of more than 1,000 vehicles to the USMC with production beginning in 2005 and continuing into 2018.
It can launch forces from 20 to 25 nautical miles at sea and transport its crew of three and 17 combat-ready Marines to shore at speeds in excess of 20 knots (three times faster than the current platform’s speed). The vehicle is capable of speeds up to 45 mph on land and is replacing the 30 year-old and less capable AAV7s.
In the future General Dynamics will announce its decision on the location of a marine test facility for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 68,400 people worldwide and anticipates 2004 revenues of $19 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 - Thursday, June 17, 2004
Press Contact: (586) 825-7930
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