16 Aug 04. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $25 million delivery order as part of a firm-fixed-price contract by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., for the production of Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS). The contract has a potential value of up to $750 million for up to 1,089 systems through 2009 if all options are exercised. Work will be performed at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products’ new Charlotte, N.C., detection and protection production facility (40 percent) and Columbus, Ohio (60 percent), and is expected to be complete by Aug., 31, 2009.
The JBPDS is a self-powered Biological Warfare Agent (BWA) detection and identification instrument suite that rapidly detects and identifies biological warfare agents such as airborne viruses, bacteria and toxins. Its “biosuite” automatically collects and analyzes environmental samples and reports identifying information about agents detected, via standard communications systems, to contacts at both local and remote locations. The JBPDS is available in man-portable, shelter-based, ship-based and trailer-mounted variants, and meets all the environmental, vibration and shock requirements of its intended platforms. JBPDS can operate either as a stand-alone unit or it can be networked with other JBPDS units to provide broad area coverage and pinpoint BWA threats. The JBPDS is a Joint Services program and is configured to meet the operational requirements of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a world leader in the field of chemical and biological agent detection. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products also provides a broad range of system solutions for military and commercial applications. The company designs, develops and produces high-performance armament systems; a full range of advanced composite-based products; biological and chemical detection systems; and mobile shelter systems. More information about General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products can be found on the World Wide Web at www.gdatp.com.