General Dynamics Delivers First MRAP Vehicles from Alabama

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has delivered its first Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps from Anniston, Ala., less than 120 days after the company received its first production order for the new product.

“This milestone demonstrates our commitment to rapidly provide the Marine Corps with the protected vehicles essential for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Rick Gillette, senior vice president of production, delivery and support for General Dynamics Land Systems. “General Dynamics and our partners – Force Protection, Anniston Army Depot and local subcontractors – are fully engaged in building these life-saving vehicles while increasing our combined production capacity to deliver 1,000 vehicles per month early next year, if necessary. Our success to date is the combination of teamwork, funding and commitment by all involved.”

Two General Dynamics assembly operations are being created in Alabama for the combined production with Force Protection Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT) of 1,125 vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Mine Resistant Ambush Protected program. Force Protection and General Dynamics have formed a joint venture, Force Dynamics, to share in the production and program management of MRAP contracts. The Alabama sites will build more than 350 of Force Protection’s Category I 4x4 and Category II 6x6 Cougar vehicles by January 2008.

The 80,000-square foot main General Dynamics assembly site for MRAP vehicles will eventually employ 220 new workers in Oxford, Ala. A supporting production site on Anniston Army Depot will employ 50 new workers. General Dynamics Land Systems currently employs 240 workers on the depot building Fox and Stryker combat vehicles and the Abrams tank gunner’s primary sight.

Anniston Army Depot will partner with General Dynamics and perform a share of the MRAP work. General Dynamics also contracted with BR Williams to operate a warehouse in Oxford to support the new production operations.