The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a $212 million (US$165 million) contract to General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, of London, Ontario, to provide a full range of services for the Canadian Forces Wheeled Light Armoured Vehicles. Canada's Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David Pratt, made the announcement today at the General Dynamic's plant in London, Ontario. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

John Ulrich, senior vice-president of General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, said, "This contract is an important step in the growth of our customer-support services and our ability to provide cost-effective life cycle support for our products. This represents the continuation of a government-industry partnership that has been working effectively for over 25 years."

Services provided under this contract include fleet management, supply support, technical support, engineering support and project management. The initial phase of the contract will cover a period of three years with options for two follow-on years.

For more than 25 years, approximately 1,500 highly skilled technical employees of General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, located in London, Ontario, Canada have designed, manufactured and delivered a unique family of light armoured vehicles (LAV). More information on the company is available at www.gdlscanada.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 67,600 people worldwide and had 2003 revenue of $16.6 billion. The company has leading market positions in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat vehicles, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation.