General Dynamics Awarded $8 Million for F/A-18E/F Gun Systems

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Posted By: Marcel van Leeuwen April 5, 2012

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $7.8 million contract modification from the Naval Air Systems Command for production of more than 20 F/A-18 E/F 20mm gun systems for the Super Hornet fighter aircraft.

F-18E Super Hornet of the US Navy

The F/A-18 E/F gun system is composed of a lightweight, six-barrel 20mm M61A2 Gatling gun equipped with a closed-loop rotary linkless feed system. The system has a maximum firing rate of up to 6,000 shots per minute and serves as the aircraft’s last line of defense in close-in aerial engagements.

“General Dynamics has successfully produced the weapon system for the F/A-18 for more than 25 years,”said Steve Elgin, vice president and general manager of armament systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. “The M61A2 F/A-18 gun system continues to be relevant, affordable and extremely effective.”

The program will be managed from the General Dynamics Technology Center in Williston, Vt. Production work will be completed at the General Dynamics facility in Saco, Maine, which employs more than 400 people.

General Dynamics press release

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