STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) announced the opening of its Anniston Operations office today. The office to be located on Anniston Army depot will employ about 60 people and have responsibility for management of the FOX vehicle upgrade, logistic service support and manufacture of the gunners primary sight for the Abrams tank.
"Today's announcement marks a major milestone in our partnership with Anniston Army Depot and the surrounding community," said Charles M. Hall, General Dynamics Land Systems Vice President and General Manager - Domestic Operations. "Building on the cooperation established with the depot under the Abrams tank upgrade program, we are going to locate all production and logistics services for the FOX vehicle here, as well as a production facility for tank sights. In the future we hope to announce a GDLS-Anniston partnership for integrated maintenance support of the Army's M1A1 Abrams tank."
Under its Anniston office General Dynamics Land Systems will hire local employees to work in three facilities on the depot. Hiring of staff will occur over the next several months. The office will be headed by Mr. Richard Kaelin. Mr. Kaelin is a key member of the management team at the Lima Army Tank Plant and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in production and manufacturing engineering.
Anniston Army Depot was selected based on its support for new initiatives in government-defense industry cooperation, the competitive advantages of its facilities, and the local skill base available.
In June 1995 the Army approved production of the Fox M93A1 beginning in 1996 and expects to field the system in March 1998. GDLS is the prime contractor for the modification of existing vehicles first used by the Army in the Persian Gulf War. The XM93 vehicle was developed and built by the German firm Thyssen Henschel. The Fox M93A1 is a nuclear, biological and chemical scout vehicle that detects contaminated areas. A central computer will automatically format reports on NBC contamination for transmission to other soldiers via the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS). The upgrade being done at Anniston allows the M93A1 to be manned by three soldiers instead of four on the XM93.
Under a maintenance contract, repair parts and tools to support Army units using Fox vehicles will be located in a General Dynamics Land Systems' operated logistics center on the depot. The center will maintain an inventory of replacement parts and coordinate the repair of broken parts.
GDLS recently concluded an agreement to use space at the depot for manufacturing the gunners primary sight used on the Abrams tank. The facility is to be located in building #105 with employees hired by Land Systems from the local area. The day/night thermal sight is used on the Abrams tank for surveillance and fire control. It allows the tank commander and gunner to locate, identify, and determine the range to enemy targets. Production of tank sights at the facility will begin this year while the company transitions out of its Sterling Heights manufacturing facility. In 1997 all production of the gunners primary sight will be at Anniston.
General Dynamics Land Systems is a world leader in the development, production integration and support of armor vehicles and electronic systems. It builds the M1A2 Abrams tank, the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), the Wolverine heavy assault bridge, Fox M93A1 and associated equipment. GDLS is the only U.S. Army contractor currently providing command, control, and communications systems developed for integration on armored combat vehicles.
LS-96-4
3-11-96