ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, February 17 /PRNewswire/ --

General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) will showcase its capabilities at the International Defence Exhibition Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Feb. 22-26, 2009. General Dynamics is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat vehicles and systems, armaments, and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and mission-critical information systems and technologies. General Dynamics companies have long-standing and trusted relationships with nations across the Gulf region, especially in the aerospace, military and security fields.

Stand information

The General Dynamics stand is at Hall 4 - Booth A11, with a display of military vehicle capability at Hall 12 - B20.

Display highlights

General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited will demonstrate its capabilities as a leading systems integrator of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, security and resilience technology, and solutions enabling command and control through information dominance.

- C4I exports and AFV integration: General Dynamics UK is the prime systems integrator delivering the UK's flagship Bowman system, which provides secure voice communications, a tactical internet and advanced situational awareness on operations to the UK Armed Forces. The company has established major export partnerships delivering tailored systems for customers worldwide, including The Netherlands, new NATO countries, and emerging members of the international community in the Middle East and North Africa. As an independent, proven systems integrator, General Dynamics UK offers a unique set of skills, capability and experience in delivering scaleable electronic architectures for Armoured Fighting Vehicles. - Security resilience: General Dynamics UK has a global capability in security and resilience solutions, including deployable security command facilities, installation surveillance and protection for ports, transport and vital energy infrastructure, and urban ISTAR situational awareness. It will also display configurable strategic and tactical shelter solutions for command and communications, together with the vital systems that enable personnel to live and work in hostile environments.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems

General Dynamics will showcase the Multi-Mission Combatant variant of its U.S. Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) at IDEX '09. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, located in Bath, Maine, is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics LCS Team that is currently constructing Independence, the U.S. Navy's first LCS with a trimaran hull form. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, of Fairfax, Va., is the platform systems engineering agent, leading the ship's open-architecture-based Core Mission System design and integration from its Pittsfield, Mass., facility.

- The LCS-based Multi-Mission Combatant is a flexible, shallow-draft, high-speed ship capable of conducting simultaneous missions that are required by today's global naval forces. The ship features an innovative trimaran hull form that provides outstanding stability, volume and sea keeping; a flight deck that is nearly three times the size of any other surface combatant; and a mission system that is built upon the General Dynamics OPEN CI open architecture computing infrastructure. - The LCS and its variants are specifically designed to enable the maximum capabilities of the latest emerging air, surface and undersea warfare technologies. The flexible and open combat system design of the General Dynamics Multi-Mission Combatant will provide our future customers the ability to seamlessly integrate their desired weapons and sensors faster and more efficiently than ever before.

General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products

- GAU-19/A, 12.7mm Gatling Gun: The GAU-19/A weapon system is versatile and can be incorporated on a variety of military helicopters, ground-based vehicles and surface navy applications requiring a lightweight, high rate-of-fire suppressive weapon system. - MK47, 40mm Grenade Machine Gun: The MK47 weapon system integrates the latest sensing, targeting and computer-programming technology and provides the end user with a reliable 40mm weapon system suited for mobile, tactical combat soldier units.

General Dynamics European Land Systems will display information on the following products and services from its companies MOWAG GmbH and Santa Barbara Sistemas (stand B-20 located at Hall 12):

- PIRANHA IIIC 8x8 Wheeled Armoured Vehicle in an Infantry Fighting Variant, equipped with the RLS LANCE 2-man turret with 30 mm automatic gun. The PIRANHA vehicle provides effective ballistic and mine protection to the crew and, despite its compact size, offers a large internal usable volume for material, ammunition and other stores. The PIRANHA is in service with the armed forces of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar, as well as in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. - SIAC Towed Howitzer Artillery is part of the 155/52 artillery capabilities of Spain and Colombia - DONAR Self-Propelled Howitzer is based in an ASCOD 2 platform, with a KMW modified PzH2000 turret. The DONAR is a new-generation, worldwide air-deployable ( 32 tons), fully autonomous and remotely operated 155/52mm artillery system. The system changes conventional artillery doctrine trough a reduced crew and logistics footprint, and is targeted to replace legacy systems (e.g., M109, AS90, K9, etc.) in service with modern armies. The DONAR has been fired successfully and is being presented to the German and Spanish Command. - ASCOD2 Tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle is operative in Spain and Austria and is competing in the UK's FRES Program. - M109 Upgrading Solutions provide benefits to the M109 such as: - Higher fire power (rate of fire, 3 rounds in less than 15 seconds) - Higher survivability (dramatic time reduction in firing action and mission accomplishment significantly reduces vulnerability to the effects of counter-battery fires). - Higher safety for the crew and damages reduction in the howitzer - Coastal Defense: As an artillery expert, General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas has created a solution to integrate legacy and new systems under a complete interoperable coastal defense system. - Ammunition: General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas offers a complete portfolio of small, medium and direct and indirect caliber, used by customers worldwide, including the U.S. Army. - Leopardo 2E: General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, licensed by KMW, is producing and delivering the Leopardo 2A6 to the Spanish Army.

General Dynamics Information Technology showcases state-of-the-art training and simulation solutions that advance operational readiness. Display highlights include:

- Military Operations on Urban Terrain (MOUT): Integrating training systems that replicate real-life urban battlefield environments for combat training. Integrated instrumentation facilitates realism and records all actions for a detailed After Action Review. GDIT is delivering an instrumented MOUT site to the US Army for the King Abdullah II Special Forces Training Center (KASOTC) in Jordan. - Integrated Instrumentation: Integrated instrumentation improves training fidelity and realism by providing the capability to infuse urban and range training environments with realistic conditions. The special effects employed to mimic realistic conditions include targetry, smoke, sounds and smells. General Dynamics Information Technology has developed advanced interactive control software for MOUT, Mobile MOUT and Range instrumentation. This new software improves the fidelity of instrumentation by merging video capture, position location and 3D imagery into a seamless environment. It also allows for better situational awareness by the controllers and facilitates quicker tracking and response. - Leader Decision Trainer (LDT): Enables tactical, support, and joint mission elements to rehearse realistic combat scenarios on actual terrain renderings. LDT is designed for flexibility, ease of use, and for immediate After Action Review. The LDT integrates legacy simulation systems and cutting-edge technology from the gaming entertainment industry to create a simulated battlespace in a realistic gaming environment. - Unmanned Systems Training: Designing and delivering training programs for any unmanned system and any mission. Training includes curriculum development, classroom, simulation and hands-on. - Command and Control Integrated Technology Software (C2IT): When it comes to Integrated Instrumentation of MOUT facilities, General Dynamics Information Technology has been the primary provider to the U.S. Army since 2001. The C2IT software system uses a Service Oriented Architecture that facilitates easy interoperability with other applications and occupies a much smaller server footprint than legacy systems. The software is ready for fielding to existing and new MOUT sites, and provides a more user-friendly, intuitive and dynamic new control software capability to our MOUT instrumentation product. Easy to use, easy to maintain, ready to perform, C2IT software is revolutionizing MOUT training and delivering real-world urban combat simulation.

General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada will demonstrate the Light Armored Vehicle - High Capacity (LAV H)

- As the next step in the evolution of armored transport and support, the LAV H from General Dynamics Land System-Canada, represents its ongoing commitment to meeting constantly changing operational requirements. It offers built-in mine blast and IED protection, digital architecture and local situational awareness, state-of-the-art data and communications, and enhanced power management and control with heavier payloads. The LAV H provides the security and mobility a crew needs to get safely where they are going, with all the room they need to be fully equipped when they get there. - The LAV H is not only highly adapted to the modern battlefield, it is also highly versatile. Because it can be outfitted with a wide range of task-specific modules, it can be instrumental in a variety of combat and support missions. It is also easy to integrate and support. In familiar GDLS fashion, all upgrades fit existing LAV fleets and are backed by Through Life Support.

General Dynamics NASSCO showcases the multi-mission auxiliary support ship for tomorrow.

- Logistics Support Ship (LSS) - LSS is a flexible, multi-mission vessel based on the U.S. Navy's T-AKE auxiliary ship. The LSS variant has the ability to supply more than 5,000 tons of dry cargo, deliver 23,000 barrels of fuel, accommodate more than 900 people and utilize advanced C4I systems. With these capabilities, LSS can sustain forces from the sea, assist with humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and serve in command and control roles.

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 the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.

Mark Douglas, +44-0-7879-400-243, mark.douglas@generaldynamics.uk.com, or Tom Griffin, +44-0-1495-234357, tom.griffin@generaldynamics.uk.com, both of General Dynamics /NOTE TO EDITORS: The General Dynamics media lead at IDEX is Mark Douglas (Vice President, General Dynamics UK) who may be contacted via the General Dynamics stand. A list of individual media contacts for General Dynamics companies is available at http://gd.com/news/media-contacts.htm