STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. -- General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded $17.6 million for the purchase of long-lead materials that will be used to convert 15 M1A2 Abrams tanks to M1A2S tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The contract was awarded to General Dynamics by the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

The contract is an addition to a $58 million 2008 award to General Dynamics to design, develop, convert, implement and test a hybrid configuration of the M1A1, M1A2 and M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) tank variants. The M1A2S vehicles will possess defined capabilities that increase lethality while limiting obsolescence. The work will be performed at the Lima Army Tank Plant in Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2012.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.

GDLS
10.12.2009