Asia PR News

OTTAWA, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

General Dynamics Canada, along with its Australian partners ADI Limited and
Tenix Defence, has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia as the
Preferred Prime System Integrator for the first phase of the Battlespace
Communications System (Land) project, referred to as JP 2072 valued at AUS$97
(US$74) million. The project has a potential value of AUS$800 (US$608) million
if all options are exercised. General Dynamics Canada is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

JP 2072 will provide the Australian Land Force with a deployable, scalable,
secure and integrated battlespace communications system that allows ground
forces to exchange information across all combat elements, improving soldiers’
safety and their ability to accomplish their missions. The system will meet the
existing and emerging information exchange requirements of command support,
intelligence, offensive fire, logistics, ground-based air defence and
sensor-linked weapon systems.

John Watts, president of General Dynamics Canada, said, "The Commonwealth’s
selection of the General Dynamics Canada-led team for the critical JP 2072
project delivers the best of two worlds for the Australian Defence Forces: it
capitalizes on the extensive experience of General Dynamics in deploying
systems of similar scale and complexity, and takes full advantage of the
capabilities of Australia’s largest defence companies, ADI and Tenix Defence."

"General Dynamics looks forward to providing an advanced communications
system that will be designed largely by Australians, to meet the unique
requirements of the Australian Defence Forces, and to support the critically
important missions of the ADF," Watts said.

As the focal point of General Dynamics’ JP 2072 program and engineering
management efforts, the company has established a new entity, General Dynamics
Systems Australia, in Canberra. As subsequent phases of the program emerge, the
new Australia-based organization will grow to include the engineering
capabilities and integration facilities necessary to progressively update and
support JP 2072 and associated projects while meeting the objectives of
Australia’s Defence Electronics Sector Plan.

General Dynamics Canada has a long history of integrating tactical
battlefield communications systems for major defence customers around the
world. As prime system integrator for the Canadian Army’s Iris tactical
communications system, General Dynamics Canada deployed the world’s first
digital voice and data secure communications system. General Dynamics Canada
went on to successfully capture the UK’s Bowman battlefield communications
programme. In addition, the company supports teams led by other General
Dynamics units on several key U.S. battlefield communication system programs,
including the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) and the Joint
Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Cluster 5 effort.

ADI Limited’s managing director, Lucio Di Bartolomeo, said, "ADI is pleased
to be a member of the General Dynamics team that will deliver to the ADF the
most advanced battlespace communication system. ADI is ready to utilise our
systems and related capabilities to benefit this important project and we look
forward to the effective and sustainable partnership that JP 2072 will bring."
ADI is Australia’s largest defence company, with over 2,500 employees.

Tenix Defence CEO Robert Salteri welcomed the announcement, saying Tenix
was committed to working with General Dynamics Canada and ADI to deliver a
world-class battlefield communications capability for the ADF. "Our involvement
consolidates our development as a broad-based systems company, developing and
supporting strong relationships with key international and local partners,"
Salteri said. Tenix is a broad based, Australian owned systems company, which
operates primarily in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region with offices in the
United States and United Kingdom. Tenix Defence operates in the naval,
aerospace, land and electronic system sectors, generates AUS$600 million in
annual revenue and employs 2500 staff.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs
approximately 70,800 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of US$19.2 billion.
The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and
technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions;
shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about
the company can be found at http://www.generaldynamics.com

SOURCE: General Dynamics Canada

CONTACT: Suzanne Belanger of General Dynamics Canada,
+1-613-596-7059,
Cell: +1-613-291-7352, or
suzanne.belanger@gdcanada.com

Web site: http://www.generaldynamics.com

(GD)