General Dynamics wins $42 million in contracts to upgrade entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tank fleet

Posted by Courtney E. Howard STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., 26 Aug. 2011. General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), won two contracts from the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. The contracts, having a combined value of $42.4 million, call for the company to upgrade the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's entire fleet of 314 Abrams tanks. General Dynamics engineers will provide materials and labor to convert 102 M1A2 tanks to the M1A2S configuration, upgrading tank efficiencies and capabilities.

General Dynamics employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, will perform the work. The completion of roughly 60 tanks is expected by 30 Aug. 2012, and another 42 tanks will be finished by 30 Sept. 2012.