General Dynamics Warrior Programs Reaching Critical Milestones

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Feb. 15, 2006 — General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), will begin equipping U.S. Army warfighters with innovative technologies for significantly more effective battle command, situational awareness and network connectivity. Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior, two key warrior programs for the Army, that are displayed at this week’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Winter symposium, are receiving excellent user feedback and are scheduled reach two significant milestones later this year. The systems will undergo operational evaluation this summer with the Army’s fourth Stryker brigade (Fort Lewis, Wash.) to assess tactics, techniques and procedures. General Dynamics is displaying at AUSA from Feb. 15-17 at booth #807.

This will be the first time a Stryker battalion will use the 440 Land Warrior and 147 Mounted Warrior ensembles in expansive field exercises for both equipment beginning in May 2006 and formal capabilities assessment starting in August 2006.

“The feedback from users from a number of side-by-side tests and evaluations with the Army have contributed greatly to a best-of-breed ensemble for a more mobile, more connected and better informed warfighter,” said Mark Showah, director of Intelligent Network Systems for General Dynamics C4 Systems. “General Dynamics is focused on integrating technologies to enhance individual warrior’s closecombat tactical awareness, lethality and survivability.”

The soldier-borne technologies enable dismounted and mounted warfighters to receive and disseminate instructions rapidly and see where members of their squad are located. Dismounted warfighters can also engage targets from farther away without being detected. The Land Warrior ensembles include an integrated helmet assembly, weapon-mounted sensors, a communications-navigation computer system and software for friendly-force tracking and command/control programs.

Leaders for the Fort Lewis, Washington-based 1st Squadron, 2nd Cavalry participated in a Land Warrior Master Training Course late last year giving praise for land navigation capability, improved mobility and enhanced situational awareness. The officers also gave recommendations for future development, testing and use of the system. This feedback will be integrated into the soldier equipment being readied for operational training, logistics and assessment. The evaluation tests the utility of the ensembles in parallel with updated Army tactics, techniques and procedures for squad maneuvers, military operations in urban terrains (MOUT) and navigation during day and night operations.

Along with Land Warrior and Mounted Warrior, the advanced system for combat vehicle crewmen, General Dynamics is also the prime system integrator on Air Warrior Block III, an ensemble for Army helicopter aircrew members and Future Force Warrior, the Army’s science and technology initiative. The systems are being designed to provide significant improvements for the mounted and dismounted soldier, in the air and on the ground.

General Dynamics C4 Systems is a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology. With more than 11,000 employees worldwide, the company specializes in command and control, communications networking, space systems, computing and information assurance for defense, government and select commercial customers in the United States and abroad.