General Dynamics Awarded $30 Million Contract to Integrate Air Warrior Block 3 Systems
Advanced Mission-Specific Systems Will Enhance Crew Performance and Safety
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to develop and integrate the Air Warrior Block 3 system, which consists of state-of-the-art electronics and advanced, mission-specific protective clothing for Army helicopter aircrew members. The General Dynamics “soldier-as-a-system” solution includes an integrated aviator helmet system, upgraded microclimate cooling unit and enhanced voice/data communication capability.
The contract is valued at $30 million over five years. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command of Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority.
The Air Warrior program is the largest development and production program for Army aircrew equipment. It standardizes and integrates Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE), which is designed to sustain aircrews throughout the flight environment by increasing their mission effectiveness and providing means of safe and reliable escape, survival, and recovery in emergency or combat situations.
The Air Warrior Block 3 system will be compatible with multiple helicopter types, including the CH-47 Chinook, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Blackhawk, and will be designed for future interoperability with the Army’s Land Warrior and Future Combat Systems programs.
“The Air Warrior system will provide helicopter crews increased mission effectiveness through aviator-centered system design with high technology electronics and survival equipment,” said Mark Fried, president and general manager of General Dynamics C4 Systems. “General Dynamics will leverage our proven systems integration abilities to lead an expert team of contractors that has more than a decade of experience in developing integrated warrior systems for both infantry and aviators.”
As lead system integrator, General Dynamics has brought together a team of partners that includes: Boeing (Mesa, Ariz.); Dynamics Research Corporation (Huntsville, Ala.); Foster-Miller (Waltham, Mass.); Hamilton Sundstrand (Windsor Locks, Conn.); Kaiser Electro-Optics, Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.); Navigator Development Group, Inc. (Enterprise, Ala.); and Sikorsky (Stratford, Conn.).
Block 1 of the Air Warrior system provided an initial system capability including the development, procurement, and fielding of a microclimate cooling system (MCS), an integrated survival gear carriage and ballistic protection system, improved over-water protective equipment, and a lightweight chemical and biological (CB) protective ensemble. The ongoing Block 2 technology insertion program provides additional capabilities, including an Electronic Data Manager (EDM) and an Aircraft Wireless Intercom System (AWIS).
General Dynamics C4 Systems, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology. With more than 7,600 employees worldwide, the company specializes in command and control, communications networking and computing and information assurance for defense, government and select commercial customers in the U.S. and abroad.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 69,400 people worldwide and anticipates 2004 revenue of $19 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; 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, September 13, 2004
Press Contact: (481) 441-2885
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