General Dynamics Team Awarded Army Ground Combat Vehicle $440 Million Technology Development Contract

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Aug 18, 2011, 05:26 ET

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A team led by General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) that includes Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Tognum America, Inc., was awarded a $439.7 million contract for the Technology Development (TD) phase of the U.S. Army's Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) program. The overall goal of the GCV IFV program is to develop and produce an affordable and operationally effective Infantry Fighting Vehicle in seven years.

"The General Dynamics team's design is focused on delivering an affordable ground combat vehicle that provides optimal Soldier protection and operational effectiveness. Our design draws on affordable, mature technologies to provide protection, capacity for a nine-soldier squad, network interoperability, mobility and lethality that is unmatched by any existing infantry fighting vehicle," said Steve Schultz, vice president, Ground Combat Vehicle Program for General Dynamics Land Systems.

"Our approach capitalizes on the proven ability and competencies of each team member to meet the requirements for an integrated next-generation fighting system," Schultz said. "We are offering a balanced and affordable solution that meets the requirements of the U.S. Army."

General Dynamics assembled a best-in-class team with unmatched experience and industry leading program management, systems engineering and technical expertise which resulted in an affordable and operationally effective solution. Together, this team provides a storied legacy of performance on contemporary ground combat vehicles.

"Our solution will provide a nine-Soldier squad an affordable protected mobile environment, mounted and dismounted connectivity, and superior lethality while providing the Army with the growth potential necessary to adapt the GCV IFV platform to the varied and evolving conditions of combat," Schultz said.

The purpose of the 24-month GCV TD phase is to complete the preliminary design of the GCV and to reduce the risk of performance of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the program. Deliverables for this contract include the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Protection Subsystem Prototype, the Mine Blast Subsystem Prototype Test Article, technical documentation and associated data.

With more than 70 years of ground combat vehicle design, development, integration and sustainment experience, General Dynamics Land Systems leads the team as the prime contractor and has overall responsibility for program management, vehicle design and integration. General Dynamics also is responsible for vehicle structure and chassis, squad and crew environments and integrated survivability and safety.

Lockheed Martin has responsibility for the turret, lethal and non-lethal effects and embedded training. The company offers over 50 years of experience in systems integration and is a world leader in design and development of missiles and fire control systems.

Raytheon is responsible for the RPG protection system, indirect-vision and sensor integration. The company brings more than 40 years of combat sensor and systems integration experience in providing advanced situational awareness, target engagement and force protection capabilities for a variety of ground combat vehicles.

Tognum America has responsibility for the power pack, which comprises the engine, transmission and generator. Tognum is the premier provider of high-capacity diesel propulsion systems based on MTU engines. The company has over 100 years of proven integration experience in combat systems worldwide.

General Dynamics C4 Systems leads the network and communications integrated product team and has responsibility for network integration, communications, computing and information assurance. The company brings over 50 years of experience in the development of the some of the world's most advanced command, control, communications and computing systems and information assurance.

Work is being done at General Dynamics Land Systems sites in Sterling Heights, Mich., and Lima, Ohio; Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas; Raytheon in McKinney and Plano, Texas; General Dynamics C4 Systems in Scottsdale, Ariz., Taunton, Mass., and Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Tognum America in Detroit, Mich., Aiken, S.C., and Friedrichshafen, Germany.