General Dynamics Awarded $7.7 Million for
Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge Upgrade Program

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has received a $7.7 million contract modification from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Mich., for the Phase I engineering development of an armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) recapitalization vehicle upgrade program.

The purpose of the AVLB recapitalization program is to develop, produce and field an AVLB based bridging vehicle with an upgraded suspension, powerpack, hydraulic electrical systems and an MLC70 bridge. The program will also bring the vehicle back to near-zero time/zero miles condition.

General Dynamics will build and test three vehicles in 2003; production of another 77 vehicles will begin in 2004. When fully exercised, the six-year contract is valued at $180 million.

Work will be performed with the existing workforce at the General Dynamics Land Systems facilities in Muskegon (62%), and Sterling Heights, Mich. (38%). The program will be managed by General Dynamics Land Systems Propulsion Systems operations in Muskegon.

The original AVLB was on an M60 main battle tank chassis. It is an armored vehicle used for launching and retrieving a 60-foot scissors-type bridge. The AVLB consists of three major sections: the hull, the launcher, and the bridge. The launcher is mounted as an integral part of the chassis. The bridge can be retrieved from either end. The roadway width of the AVLB is 12 feet, 6 inches. Bridge emplacement can be accomplished in 2 to 5 minutes, and retrieval can be accomplished in 10 minutes. When unfolded, it can span up to 60 feet while supporting 70 tons of equipment.