GD in U.S. Army contract for biological detection system
General Dynamics tapped by the U.S. Army to produce and test the Joint Biological Point Detection System; the JBPDS comes in different configuration and is a Joint Service program
The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving
Ground, Maryland, has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products a contract option worth
approximately $43 million to produce and test Joint Biological Point Detection Systems (JBPDS). The
contract terms also include field-support packages and user training for the
technology. This award is a modification of a 2004 contract and brings the
total value to date to more than $200 million. General Dynamics Armament and
Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics. The JBPDS is a
self-contained instrument suite that rapidly detects and identifies biological
warfare agents. Available in man-portable, shelter- based, ship-based, and
trailer-mounted variants, the JBPDS is a Joint Services program and is configured
to meet the operational requirements of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and
Air Force. Work will be performed at General Dynamics’ Charlotte, North Carolina, detection and
protection production facility, which provides development, manufacturing and
integration of advanced biological and chemical agent detection systems.
According to Bill Gural, vice president
and general manager of detection systems for General Dynamics Armament and
Technical Products, “The Joint Biological Point Detection System provides
customers with an advanced level of protection. The system is based on a robust
bio-detection instrument suite that is fully functional in any operational
environment. The system provides automatic detection and identification of
airborne biological agents at very low levels, triggers local and remote
warning systems, and communicates threat information over standard
communication systems. We are proud to be on the leading edge of innovations to
protect our country from evolving threats and look forward to continuing our
work with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center.”
General Dynamics Armament and Technical
Products designs, develops, and produces armament systems; defensive armor
solutions; aerospace components; mobile shelter systems; and thje company
describes it as “the leading U.S. producer of biological and chemical detection
systems.”
Falls
Church General Dynamics employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and
reported 2007 revenues of $27.2 billion.
