General Dynamics to produce gun systems for F/A-18E/F

CHARLOTTE, N.C. 11 April 2012. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $7.8 million contract modification from the Naval Air Systems Command for production of more than 20 F/A-18 E/F 20mm gun systems for the Super Hornet fighter aircraft.

The F/A-18 E/F gun system consists of a lightweight, six-barrel 20mm M61A2 Gatling gun with a closed-loop rotary linkless feed system. The system has a maximum firing rate of 6,000 shots per minute and serves as the aircraft's last line of defense in close-in aerial engagements.

The program will be managed from the General Dynamics Technology Center in Williston, Vt. Production work will be completed at the General Dynamics facility in Saco, Maine.