Military

U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics Contract for Biological Detection System Production and Support

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract option worth approximately $43 million to produce and test Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS). The contract terms also include field-support packages and user training for the technology. This award is a modification of a 2004 contract and brings the total value to date to more than $200 million. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The JBPDS is a self-contained instrument suite that rapidly detects and identifies biological warfare agents. Available in man-portable, shelter-based, ship-based and trailer-mounted variants, the JBPDS is a Joint Services program and is configured to meet the operational requirements of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.

Work will be performed at General Dynamics’ Charlotte, N.C., detection and protection production facility, which provides development, manufacturing and integration of advanced biological and chemical agent detection systems.

According to Bill Gural, vice president and general manager of detection systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, “The Joint Biological Point Detection System provides customers with an advanced level of protection. The system is based on a robust bio-detection instrument suite that is fully functional in any operational environment. The system provides automatic detection and identification of airborne biological agents at very low levels, triggers local and remote warning systems, and communicates threat information over standard communication systems. We’re proud to be on the leading edge of innovations to protect our country from evolving threats and look forward to continuing our work with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center.”

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, located in Charlotte, N.C., provides a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications. The company designs, develops and produces high-performance armament systems; defensive armor solutions; aerospace components; mobile shelter systems; and is the leading U.S. producer of biological and chemical detection systems. More information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products can be found on the Internet at www.gdatp.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.

April 7, 2008
Contact: Gail Warner
Tel: (704) 714-8014
Email: gwarner@gdatp.com