General Dynamics to Produce M2 Heavy Barrel Machine Guns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, was awarded a $9 million contract from U.S. Army TACOM-Rock Island, Ill., for production of M2HB machine guns. Deliveries on the contract are expected to begin in late 2009. According to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products gun systems senior program manager, Dean Gagnon, "The .50 caliber M2 heavy barrel machine gun is a belt-fed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served weapon capable of right- or left-hand feed. The weapon's accuracy, durability and versatility make it ideal for offensive and defensive operations". Production work will be performed at General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' Saco, Maine, facility, which has delivered more than 25,000 M2 heavy barrel machine guns to the U.S. government since 1979. Program management will be performed at the company's Burlington, Vt-based Technology Center. General Dynamics' Saco operation is the company's primary facility for production of single- and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems. The site provides complete production capabilities, from design and development to manufacturing, testing and integration. Crew-served weapons manufactured at the facility include the MK19 and MK47 40mm grenade machine guns and the M2HB 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) machine gun. The Burlington Technology Center, located in Burlington, Vt., is General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' Engineering Center of Excellence. By consolidating the company's engineering development and leadership functions, and investing more than $55 million in major systems upgrades, infrastructure, and training, the Burlington Technology Center is a key component of the company's success. The Technology Center encompasses five sites: the Lakeside office building; the newly expanded, 13,500-square-foot Engineering Development Lab; the Systems Modernization Initiative office; the Burlington manufacturing site; and an expansive test facility.