General Dynamics [GD]’ Armament and Technical Products received a $37 million Army contract for the qualification and production of reactive armor side skirt tiles for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. The reactive armor system is comprised of tiles that fasten to the exterior of a vehicle allowing it to better withstand a direct hit from a variety of anti-armor munitions.
In addition to manufacturing the reactive armor tiles for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Abrams tank, General Dynamics provides complete assembly, integration and storage capabilities.
“Our reactive armor technology provides an added level of vehicle protection against shape-charged threats, including rocket propelled grenades,” Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, said. “Designed specifically for the U.S. Army Bradley Fighting Vehicle, our reactive armor is saving lives and preventing severe damage to combat vehicles in Iraq.”
The contract was issued by the Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center in Picatinny, N.J.
The contract work will be done at the General Dynamics’ facility in McHenry, Miss., and is expected to be completed in November 2009. As a strategic partner, RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd., Ordnance Systems Division, will share the production workload in Haifa, Israel. The program will be managed from General Dynamics’ Burlington Technology Center, Burlington, Vt.
General Dynamics’ facility in McHenry, Miss., is where the reactive armor tile program loads, assembles and packs.