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General Dynamics Opens SpacePlex

New State-of-the-Art Satellite Center

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today launched SpacePlexSM, a new, custom-designed facility that provides satellite command and control services, network operations and ground-station support for up to 100 satellites. A collaborative effort between General Dynamics and New Mexico State University (NMSU), SpacePlex is located on the NMSU campus in Las Cruces.

Today’s event marks the opening of SpacePlex, an 11,000 square foot facility with 28 control stations dedicated to supporting satellite operations 24 hours per day, year round. The New Mexico location has the geographic advantage of being highly visible to satellites in the Atlantic and Pacific regions, minimal threat of natural disasters, minimal rainfall, and a highly qualified workforce.

General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems President Mike Chandler said, "We at General Dynamics are very proud to be a world class supplier of a full range of communications systems and information networks, wireless networks, and satcom systems. With SpacePlex, we believe we are poised to become the largest fee-for-service satellite operations support provider in the country."

"With the opening of this facility, New Mexico State University and General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems enter a new phase in a partnership that has been rewarding for both of us," said New Mexico State University President Jay Gogue. "We take great pride in the success General Dynamics has achieved since it opened a satellite monitoring and control center in the university’s Genesis Center, and the NMSU students who have worked there have gained valuable experience in satellite operations. We look forward to the exciting new opportunities that this SpacePlex makes possible, for the company and for the university."

General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunications Systems provides satellite engineering support services to NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense from several locations and is currently flying 38 spacecraft as a third-party operator. The SpacePlex service package includes space mission engineering services, spacecraft operational services, ground segment services, teleport services, and satellite network engineering services.

David Messner, vice president for General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems space systems services, said, "The advantages of using fee-for-service contractors include being able to tap into a pool of proven professionals with decades of experience flying some of the world's most sophisticated spacecraft.

"Our customers can minimize capital investment for unique satellite support infrastructure and avoid significant labor costs by directly employing dedicated personnel," Messner added.

The SpacePlex network offers connectivity via a high-bandwidth ATM link and terrestrial fiber optic backbone and, through an alliance with Universal Space Network (USN), will offer C, S, X and Ku-band antenna resources from Las Cruces and other USN tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) sites worldwide. Looking to significantly expand its customer base, General Dynamics will provide end-to-end services for up to 100 LEO, MEO and GEO satellites using the efficiencies and scalability of Raytheon's EclipseTM satellite command and control software.

With more than 200 satellite professionals supporting customers, SpacePlex enables General Dynamics to meet the demand for low-cost network management, uplink/downlink and satellite operations services. It provides the ground infrastructure and personnel to safely operate any satellite fleet.

General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems, headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, has been delivering telecommunications solutions for more than 40 years, in all 50 states and more than 40 countries. With more than 3,400 employees, General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunication Systems is an industry-leading provider of integration, installation, management, operations and support services for wireline and wireless, terrestrial and spaced-based voice video and data networks.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 46,000 people and anticipates 2001 sales of approximately $11.5 billion. The company has leading market positions in business aviation, information systems, shipbuilding and marine systems, and land and amphibious combat systems.

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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, February 15, 2001
Press Contact: (781) 455-2286