General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:GD), said it received a $26 million contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command to build two Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) prototypes.
The JAB program is a multi-service initiative to replace the existing Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) system that is currently available to U.S. forces. The JAB system will be a fully tracked armored engineering vehicle specifically designed to provide Mobility Augmentation Companies with bridging capabilities allowing military vehicles to cross ravines or gorges in combat.
It will provide crew with protection and vehicle survivability equal to the M1A1 Abrams tank fleet and have the speed and mobility to keep pace with the maneuver force. The JAB system will launch and recover the Army's hydraulically actuated Military Load Class Scissor Bridge.
Test support packages (TSP) will be delivered along with two JAB prototypes to the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The contract supports the JAB engineering and manufacturing development phase, and work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., with an estimated completion date of August, 2014.
In a separate release, General Dynamics C4 Systems said James Norton is now vice president of business development at the company's new Washington, D.C., location. General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of GD.
Norton will be responsible for expanding the company's presence in Washington, D.C., and managing engagements with the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, Transportation and intelligence agencies.
Norton will lead a team focused on educating agency leaders about the company's diverse portfolio in the defense, homeland security and first responder markets.
GD is trading down 1.02% at $66.84 on Wednesday. The stock has been trading between $53.95 and $75.93 for the past 52 weeks.