Austal and General Dynamics Extend Agreement

Press Release March 14, 2012

Littoral Combat Ship: Photo courtesy Austal

Shipbuilders Austal link with advanced information system provider General Dynamis, seek naval orders.

The agreement between the two companies is aimed to combine Austal’s shipbuilding, systems and support capabilities with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems’ expertise in systems integration to support future shipbuilding and sustainment programs.

Austal’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, said the agreement would enable the companies to provide best value offerings to the marketplace.

“This agreement may involve partnerships to pursue opportunities with international governments and navies including Australian programs such as Project SEA 1180, the Royal Australian Navy’s Offshore Combatant Vessel,” he said.

The agreement builds upon existing arrangements between the companies including those for the Littoral Combat Ship Independence variant and Joint High Speed Vessel programs. Austal is the prime contractor for those ships, while General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems designs, integrates and tests the electronic systems including the combat system, networks, and seaframe control.

“Like the ships Austal manufactures, our proven open architecture design ensures that the ships are able to keep pace with technology, giving the warfighters the capability they need, when they need it,” said Michael Tweed-Kent, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems’ Mission Integration Systems division.

Mr. Tweed-Kent said the company’s open computing infrastructure (OPEN CI) provides a command and control infrastructure that can host a wide array of weapons, sensors, and combat system applications.