WESTMINSTER, Md., 13 May 2005. General Dynamics Robotic Systems has been awarded a $50.7 million modification to its $186 million U.S. Army Future Combat Systems Autonomous Navigation System base contract from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).
SAIC and Boeing constitute the FCS Lead Systems Integrator team. Total value of the contract is now approx. $237 million. General Dynamics Robotic Systems is a part of General Dynamics Land Systems (Sterling Heights, Mich.), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Under the FCS ANS program, General Dynamics Robotic Systems is responsible for the design, development, manufacture, integration and testing of a system that is capable of autonomously controlling any of several vehicles designated by the Army, including the Multi-functional Utility Logistics Equipment platform (MULE), the Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV), and Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV).
The initial contract for development of the Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) for ground vehicles was awarded in December 2003. With this modification, the period of performance for the ANS program has been extended from September 2009 to March 2013.
This modification provides for a transition effort that includes risk reduction features for the program while it accelerates the insertion of FCS technologies into existing Army forces. This modification includes additional MULE prototypes that will perform various FCS missions such as equipment transport and automated re-supply; development of the previously optional ARV and FCS Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle (FRMV) prototypes; and increased involvement in FCS "Spin Out 3," which provides an opportunity to insert early technology capabilities into the field faster.
"We have been developing ANS technology for more than ten years," said Phil Cory, program manager for General Dynamics Robotic Systems. "We have demonstrated its feasibility on many Army programs and are excited about its applications on the FCS program."
"ANS will comprise field sensor and software solutions based on autonomous mobility technology," said Scott Myers, president of General Dynamics Robotic Systems. "The ANS system -- the intelligence of the FCS robotic vehicles -- will enable the Army's vision of a lighter, faster, highly effective future force."
FCS is a networked "system of systems," using advanced communications and technologies to link soldiers with manned and unmanned ground and air platforms and sensors to significantly enhance the Army's effectiveness and maneuverability.
General Dynamics Robotic Systems is a leading performer on related FCS technical based projects such as ARV Robotic Technology/Science and Technology Objective (ART/STO), Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (R-CTA) and Vetronics Technology Integration (VTI).
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 70,100 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. For more information, see www.generaldynamics.com or www.gdls.com.
