GDLS Press Releases From 1997

• General Dynamics Completes Crusader Transmission Acceptance Test And Begins Power Pack Integration Ahead Of Schedule (December 11, 1997)
General Dynamics Defense Systems' newly designed 1500 horsepower Crusader transmission, the HMPT 1500, passed a major milestone this week when acceptance test procedures were successfully accomplished on transmission two at the division's test facility in Dalton, Massachusetts. This completes the series of increasingly strenuous test and inspection cycles that began in October.
• General Dynamics Awarded Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting Vehicle (RST-V) Contract (November 6, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems was notified today by the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division that it has been selected as one of two winners of the RST-V Phase I contract. The $2.9 million program is jointly sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
• General Dynamics Land Systems Achieves SEI Level III Certification (October 1, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems has achieved Level III certification from the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University placing it among the top 15 percent of all assessed software development companies worldwide. Land Systems is also the first ground combat systems manufacturer in the United States to achieve SEI Level III certification.
• General Dynamics Land Systems And General Motors' Diesel Division To Pursue Canada's Armored Combat Vehicle Program (September 30, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems and General Motors' Diesel Division have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue the Canadian Armored Combat Vehicle Program (ACV). The $600 million program will develop and field a replacement for the Canadian Army's nearly 200 Cougar vehicles. Production of the ACV is scheduled to begin in 2002.
• First Fox NBCRS M93A1 Vehicles Arrive At General Dynamics Land Systems (August 25, 1997)
The first two FOX Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance System (NBCRS) M93A1 Upgrade Program vehicles have arrived at General Dynamics Land Systems for validation of technical manuals and development of troubleshooting procedures and training material. Arrival of the vehicles was critical to meeting delivery of the training data required for government development of M93A1 electronic manuals at Picatinny Arsenal and the start of training at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
• Tank Completes Diesel Engine Testing (July 29, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems completed field testing of an M1A2 Abrams tank using a diesel engine last Friday at the General Motors test track in Milford, Michigan.
• General Dynamics Opens Imperial Valley Material Management Center (July 1, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems opened a Material Management Center at its Imperial Valley facility today. The 11 employee center is located in its 65,000 square foot plant at West Aten Road in Imperial, California.
• General Dynamics Selected As U.S. Army Tank-Automotive And Armaments Command's Best Contractor (June 18, 1997)
The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems its 1996 Contractor Excellence Award. In winning the award, Land Systems was selected over 2,200 other eligible defense contractors from whom TACOM purchases material.
• Tank Uses Diesel Engine For The First Time (June 16, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems operated an M1A2 Abrams tank using a diesel engine at its Sterling Heights, Michigan headquarters.
• General Dynamics Muskegon Operations Completes Its First M1A2 Abrams Gun Mounts (May 30, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems Muskegon Operations has completed its first month's production of M1A2 main battle tank gun mounts. The gun mount represents the majority of the work content that was transferred to Muskegon from the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant (DATP) in Warren, Michigan.
• General Dynamics Tallahassee Operations Meets ISO 9002 Standard (March 27, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems' Tallahassee Operations was certified to the international quality standard ISO 9002.
• General Dynamics Opens Tank Component Manufacturing Area (March 25, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems held an opening ceremony today for its new tank component manufacturing area at its facility in Muskegon, Michigan.
• General Dynamics Receives LRIP Authorization For Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge (March 24, 1997)
The U.S. Army's Program Executive Officer, Ground Combat and Support Systems, Major General John F. Michitsch, has approved the Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge to enter Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP).
• General Dynamics Creates New Vice President Position (March 17, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems president, Arthur J. Veitch, announced the establishment of a new position, vice president Material Acquisition, reporting to him.
• General Dynamics And UAW Reach Tentative Agreement (March 14, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems and the United Automobile Workers reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement for employees in three states.
• General Dynamics Appoints Thompson Vice President Customer Service And Support (March 13, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems has appointed J. Frank Thompson to the new position of vice president Customer Service and Support reporting to the president. Thompson had been director Advanced Programs since April 1996.
• General Dynamics Delivers 40,000th Radio To U.S. Army (March 10, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems Tallahassee Operations recently delivered its 40,000th Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) to the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command.
• General Dynamics To Establish Imperial Valley Material Management Center (February 13, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems and Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-52nd/CA) jointly announced today the establishment of an 11 employee Material Management Center at General Dynamics' Imperial Valley facility by July 1997. The 65,000 square foot facility is located at West Aten Road in Imperial, California.
• General Dynamics Appoints Program Development Manager (February 10, 1997)
General Dynamics Land Systems has appointed Robert (Bob) V. Sorge Program Development Manager - Future Scout Reconnaissance Vehicle. He will report directly to Donald S. Pihl, Vice President, Business Acquisition and Program Development.
• General Dynamics Names Gordon England To Head Newly Formed Combat Systems Group (February 5, 1997)
James R. Mellor, chairman and Chief executive officer of General Dynamics, announced today the formation of a new Combat Systems Group. The group will be headed by Gordon R. England, 59, who was also elected an executive vice president of General Dynamics.
• General Dynamics Completes Acquisition of Two Lockheed Martin Units (January 2, 1997)
General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) has completed its purchase of the assets of Lockheed Martin Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin Armament Systems. The 30-day waiting period mandated by the Hart Scott Rodino pre-merger notification act expired without action by the Department of Justice on December 19, 1996, and the companies closed the transaction effective January 1, 1997. General Dynamics acquired the two units for $450 million, and assumed no debt in the transaction.