STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., December 16, 2003 ..General Dynamics Land Systems awarded a $2B contract by Boeing for engineering development and demonstration of a family of manned ground vehicles for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. To date, General Dynamics has been awarded contracts valued at approximately $2.5B for FCS-related work.

"We are happy to be a significant member of the team selected to develop the next generation of manned ground vehicles," said Charles M. Hall, president of General Dynamics Land Systems. "We are committed to supporting the Army and the Lead Systems Integrator team, Boeing and Science Applications International Corporation, to achieve a successful outcome for the development phase of Future Combat Systems."

Mike Bolon, General Dynamics Land Systems senior vice president of engineering, design and development, said, "The program's systems of systems approach brings advanced technologies to the soldiers of the future, allowing them to operate across the full spectrum of combat operations. This subcontract results in one team -- the U.S. Army, its Lead Systems Integrator team, United Defense Limited Partnership and General Dynamics -- working to design, develop and demonstrate a new fleet of armored combat vehicles."

Under this contract General Dynamics is leading the Manned Ground Vehicle common design team through engineering development, testing and demonstration of prototypes. Manned Ground Vehicles will be a new generation of Army combat vehicles replacing today's tanks, artillery and infantry carriers. General Dynamics is also responsible for the development and integration of the Mounted Combat System, Command and Control Vehicle, and Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle through 2009.

General Dynamics and United Defense Limited Partnership, which received a similar subcontract, together have formed an integrated design team to develop and demonstrate a family of eight manned ground vehicles sharing common components and subsystems. These new vehicles will be significantly smaller and lighter than the systems they replace, and designed to fit into a C-130 airplane.

The Army and its Lead Systems Integrator team (Boeing and Science Applications International Corporation) in May began the system development and demonstration phase of FCS, a joint, networked 'system of systems' that comprises 18 manned and unmanned ground and aerial vehicles and sensors connected via an advanced communications network.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 66,900 people worldwide and anticipates 2003 revenues of $16.1 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.

More information can be found at www.generaldynamics.com .

Military & Aerospace Electronics