General Dynamics Selected for Czech Republic Armored Vehicle Program
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The government of the Czech Republic has selected Vienna-based Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH, a part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, to supply the Czech army with 199 new eight-wheeled Pandur II armored personnel carriers between 2007 and 2012. The contract, which includes an option for 35 additional vehicles, has a potential value of approximately $1 billion (23.6 billion koruna). A final contract is expected to be completed by April 2006. General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
Vehicles will be produced in Austria and the Czech Republic.
Christian Fuchs, managing director of Steyr, said, “We are very pleased to have been selected as the Czech Republic’s partner on this important program. The Pandur II family of amphibious combat vehicles comprises a cost-effective, versatile, high-performance transportation system that meets demanding force-protection requirements.”
The Pandur II family is composed of mission-specific variants that are optimized for superior survivability and mobility, and rapid deployment and maintenance. Design elements include two steered axles, an independent suspension system and run-flat tires for advanced mobility, a high level of embedded armor protection, spall liners for the crew compartments, and drivetrain and steering linkages within the hull for superior survivability. A computer-based interactive maintenance and repair diagnostic system enables complete powerpack changes in approx. 30 minutes. Other current customers for the vehicle include Austria, Belgium, Gabon, Kuwait, Slovenia, the United States and Portugal.
General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems is based in Vienna, Austria, and composed of three European land combat systems companies owned by General Dynamics: MOWAG GmbH, of Kreuzlingen, Switzerland; General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, of Madrid, Spain; and Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 72,200 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 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 - Thursday, January 26, 2006
Press Contact: (703) 876-3199
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