CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), a $16 million contract extension for the production of M61A2 20mm automatic Gatling gun systems for use on F/A-18 fighter jets.

The production work will be performed at General Dynamics’ Saco, Maine, facility, with final deliveries scheduled in 2011. The program will be managed out of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ Burlington, Vt., facility.

The initial $10 million contract was awarded to General Dynamics in 2005, followed by a $12.5 million contract extension in 2006.

According to Gary LaPerriere, director of operations for General Dynamics in Saco, “Our team here in Maine is proud to continue to supply our gun system to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Our M61A1 and M61A2 20mm Gatling gun systems offer lightweight, highly lethal combat support for a variety of aircraft. The M61A1 and M61A2 dramatically increase multiple-hit probabilities when compared to guns with lower rates of fire because they can provide firing rates of up to 7,200 shots per minute. The M61A2 is also 20 percent lighter than the M61A1.”

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, located in Charlotte, N.C., provides a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications. The company designs, develops and produces high-performance armament systems; defensive armor solutions; aerospace components; mobile shelter systems; and is a leading U.S. producer of biological and chemical detection systems. More information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products can be found on the Internet at http://www.gdatp.com/.

Source: General Dynamics