General Dynamics Provides Operational and Marketing Support to Kingdom of Tonga's Communications Satellites
NEEDHAM, Ma. – General Dynamics Network Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has entered into an agreement with Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Ltd. (Tongasat), which is the appointed exclusive agent of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga, to provide satellite engineering and flight-operations services for the first of several commercial communications satellites that Tongasat plans to own.
The satellite, which Tongasat purchased last year and renamed ESIAFI-1, will provide telephone, data and other communications services. It has been moved to one of nine geostationary orbital filings made by the Kingdom of Tonga, with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Tonga is a Polynesian nation of 100,000 people in the South Pacific.
General Dynamics is working under a three-year contract with Friendly Islands Satellite Communications Limited (Tongasat) to operate the satellite and provide around-the-clock monitoring from the General Dynamics SpacePlexÒ commercial satellite control facility in Las Cruces, N.M. General Dynamics engineers will ensure the safety and health of the satellite, troubleshoot operations and provide commands for orbital stationkeeping.
General Dynamics will also support the Tongan government, through its agent Tongasat, by helping to identify customers to use the satellite’s transponders, as well as assist in the evaluation of other potential satellites to be moved into Tonga’s remaining orbital positions. Future satellites may also be positioned to provide voice, video and data for the numerous small island nations in that region of the Pacific, including Tonga.
“We are very pleased the Tongan government agent, Tongasat, has selected General Dynamics to not only provide operations and engineering support, but also to support their business expansion plans,” said Ken Osborne, director of advanced programs for General Dynamics. “We believe this partnership has tremendous potential for both entities.”
At the SpacePlex, General Dynamics provides satellite services to civil, commercial and military customers around the world. Its performance record includes 30 years of satellite operations, engineering, ground systems and teleport services, for customers that include NASA, the U.S. military and commercial businesses.
General Dynamics Network Systems has been designing and building complex telecommunications networks for nearly 50 years. More than 4,000 skilled technical personnel provide design, integration, installation and support services for backbone, wireless and space-based networks. More information about General Dynamics Network Systems is available at www.gd-ns.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 54,000 people worldwide and anticipates 2002 revenues of $14 billion. The company has leading market positions in land and amphibious combat systems, mission-critical information systems and technologies, 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, January 6, 2003
Press Contact: (781) 455-2286
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