General Dynamics Awarded F-35 Lightning II Gun System Contracts by Lockheed Martin

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded two contracts by Lockheed Martin for the production of GAU-22/A gun systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft. The contracts have a combined value of nearly $9 million.

According to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Gun Systems Program Manager Howard Brott, “Our GAU-22/A gun system serves a vital role in the F-35 aircraft’s tactical air-to-ground support capabilities. In addition, the 25mm GAU-22/A brings increased range in air-to-air engagements compared to the 20mm guns common on today’s fighters. The gun system’s high rate of fire and consistency are key features for future F-35 pilots, and its reliability contributes significantly to lower operating and aircraft maintenance costs.”

The F-35 Lightning II internal gun system is based on a derivative of General Dynamics’ proven GAU-12/U 25mm Gatling gun. It will be used on the F-35 Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) variant and will include the GAU-22/A gun and its associated components. General Dynamics is also developing an external gun system for other variants of the F-35.

Production is scheduled to begin immediately and extend through August 2010 at General Dynamics’ Saco, Maine, facility, the company’s primary facility for production of single and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems. The Saco operations provide complete production capabilities, from design and development to manufacturing, testing and integration. Program management will be performed at General Dynamics’ Burlington, Vt.-based Technology Center, which is the company’s engineering center of excellence.