- GENERAL DYNAMICS' AAAV BEGINS PROTOTYPE
FABRICATION:
PROGRAM RECEIVES INDUSTRY AWARDS -

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - The Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) successfully completed a U.S. Marine Corps critical design review, June 8-11, 1998, clearing the way for fabrication of the first prototype vehicle. General Dynamics Land Systems is designing the AAAV for the Marines under a $218 million demonstration/validation contract awarded in June 1996.

"Accolades are clearly in order for every integrated process team member throughout the AAAV organization," said Richard Bayard, United States Marine Corps Deputy Program Manager for the AAAV personnel variant. "The level of detail, knowledge, and teamwork exhibited throughout the reviews is unprecedented in product design review and demonstration validation efforts. Everyone truly embraced the total design success axiom."

Fabrication of the first AAAV prototype vehicle structure has started at the Oakridge Tennessee National Laboratory. It is scheduled for delivery to the AAAV Research & Development center in Woodbridge, Virginia, this December. Assembly of the first prototype will be completed there and is scheduled for delivery in August 1999.

The second AAAV prototype is scheduled to be completed two months after the first. General Dynamics has released work to 323 subcontractors/vendors totaling more than $64 million for the prototype effort.

The AAAV, see the enclosed two computer models, is the United States Marine Corps' next generation amphibious vehicle. It is capable of launching a three person crew and 18 combat equipped Marines from 20 to 25 nautical miles off shore and transporting them to land at speeds in excess of 25 knots, three times the current platform's speed. The AAAV's land speed is comparable to the M1 Abrams series main battle tanks allowing it to also help support ground combat mission objectives.

General Dynamics' AAAV program has received several internationally respected awards in 1998 including the Packard Award for acquisition excellence, presented by Secretary of Defense William Cohen, one of only five awards given annually. The Defense Superior Management Award, the Defense Department's highest recognition for superior management of acquisition programs, was presented by Under Secretary of Defense Jacques Gansler. Three Defense Department Value Engineering awards for improved quality and reduced cost were presented to three General Dynamics Integrated Product Teams, and the program received two Environmental awards.

The AAAV program continues to be a model throughout the DoD in cost as an independent variable based integrated product and process development/integrated product team management. General Dynamics and the United States Marine Corps have taken advantage of their co-located offices in Woodbridge, Virginia, to ensure timely identification and resolution of issues in a technically feasible and cost conscious basis.

General Dynamics Land Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation, is a world leader in the development, production, and support of armored vehicles and electronic systems. Its 3,500 employees operate plants and facilities in seven states and at three international locations. More information about General Dynamics Land Systems can be found on the Internet at www.gdls.com.

AAAV in water mode	AAAV in land mode

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LS-98-11
7-13-98