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General Dynamics Awarded $9 Million to Continue Developing Navy Common Network Interface

FAIRFAX, Va. – The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a $9.2 million contract to continue developing the Common Network Interface (CNI) system, a software package that improves situational awareness for Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) commanders. This contract includes options through 2013 which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $28.9 million. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The CNI program introduces the surface navy community to the Rapid Capability Insertion Program that has been successfully used in the submarine community to provide frequent software upgrades and capability increases. CNI is being developed in a series of "flights" or generations, with each flight inserting additional tactical capability and improving the human machine interface by providing the ability to customize and manipulate displays. In the future, this system will also provide a single integrated display of correlated radar and link picture.

Mike Tweed-Kent, vice president and general manager of integrated combat systems for General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, said, “CNI is an example of how General Dynamics is using open architecture to quickly and efficiently bring improved situational awareness and warfighting capability to the fleet.”

This newly awarded contract continues an effort that began with a successful at-sea engineering demonstration on USS NASSAU in 2007. The demonstration validated the open architecture of CNI by seamlessly incorporating the new technology into the ship’s existing command and control systems.

Flight 0, which extended this demonstration by integrating eight new fleet-requested tactical decision aids and communication interfaces, is already in production. Installations will begin this year in LHA/LHD amphibious assault ships.

Flight 0+, now in development, adds 10 warfighter-requested capability enhancements including the Commercial/Joint Mapping Toolkit, an emerging Navy/DoD standard display engine and is scheduled for installation in fleet units next year.

Work will be performed in Fair Lakes and Virginia Beach, Va., and will include engineering, design agent services and integrated logistic services.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, operates and maintains mission systems for defense, space, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, homeland security and homeland defense customers. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., the company specializes in ground systems; imagery processing; mission payloads; space vehicles; maritime subsurface, surface and airborne mission systems; and tasking, collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination programs for national intelligence. More information is available on the Internet at www.gd-ais.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 84,600 people worldwide and anticipates 2008 revenues of approximately $29.5 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.

September 22, 2008
Contact: Brenda Burdick
Tel: (413) 494-3851
Email: Brenda.Burdick@gd-ais.com