May 26 2009
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract valued at more than $150 million to qualify and produce reactive armor tile sets for the Stryker family of vehicles. Deliveries are expected to begin in March 2010. General Dynamics Land Systems is the original equipment manufacturer of the Stryker vehicle. All three companies are units of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
General Dynamics' reactive armor system comprises tiles that fasten to the exterior of the Stryker family of vehicles, allowing it to better withstand hits from a variety of anti-armor munitions.
"Our reactive armor technology is light-weight and provides an increased level of equipment and troop protection against shape-charged threats, including rocket-propelled grenades or RPGs," said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. "We are proud to work with our General Dynamics' teammates to provide potentially life-saving technologies to U.S. servicemen and women."
Work will be performed at the General Dynamics' facility in Camden, Ark., and will create 20 new jobs at the Camden facility in January 2010. Program management will take place in General Dynamics' Burlington Technology Center in Vermont. As a strategic partner, RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd., Ordnance Systems Division, will share the production workload in Haifa, Israel.
In support of this new contract, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission awarded General Dynamics a grant to offset costs incurred in purchasing production-related equipment. The grant provided the company with an opportunity to streamline production efforts, as well as create local jobs.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' facility in Camden, Ark., produces warheads and performs rocket-motor assembly and complete rocket integration. Employees are trained to handle energetic material, and the site adheres to stringent quality standards through the use of several advanced quality control laboratories. The 1,300-acre facility has more than 120 buildings that support a variety of U.S. military weapon systems programs, including the Hydra-70 2.75-inch rocket, Hellfire and Javelin missiles and the Modular Artillery Charge System.