News Release
GULFSTREAM SELECTED AS TEST BED AIRCRAFT FOR NEW AIRBORNE COMMUNICATIONS NODE
Proven Performance and Characteristics of Business Jet Influence Selection
SAVANNAH , Ga. , Aug 15, 2006 – Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today that a Gulfstream GV has been selected by the STG-MELE team as the test bed for the new Integrated C4ISR Operational Networks (ICON) program.
The ICON program is a United States Air Force program managed by Air Combat Command C4ISR. STG-MELE is the prime contractor selected by the U.S. government. MELE Associates Inc. of Rockville , Md. and subcontractor Magnus Aviation will provide all required staff services, equipment and material necessary to integrate payloads into host platforms; test and evaluate integrated payloads on host systems; and provide, operate and maintain suitable host platforms.
“We are delighted that one of our aircraft has been selected for this important U.S. Air Force special missions role,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream. “The proven performance and reliability of our aircraft, combined with our worldwide product support network, means that military operators can dispatch commercially off-the-shelf business jets with the same confidence as their civilian counterparts.”
Gulfstream aircraft are deployed in a number of special mission roles including maritime surveillance; high-altitude research; weather system monitoring; medical evacuation; special electronic mission and airborne early-warning roles. More than 34 governments operate Gulfstream aircraft, including some 22 that use the jets for head of state transport.
The GV business jet entered service in 1997, the same year it was awarded the Robert J. Collier Award by the National Aeronautic Association for the “greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America .” It is a large-cabin, ultra-long-range aircraft capable of flying 6,500 nautical miles at Mach 0.80 and operating up to 51,000 feet at speeds up to Mach 0.885. The GV has established more than 70 national and international speed and distance records in the past nine years and has a dispatch reliability rate of 99.79%. The current in-service GV fleet includes some 190 aircraft.
The GV is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 engines, each producing 14,750 pounds of thrust. The GV can carry up to 19 passengers and three crew, but is normally configured for 13-15 passengers. Its maximum payload is 6,500 pounds.
In addition, the cabin altitude of the GV is 6,000 feet, some 1,500 to 2,000 feet less than a commercial airliner and the cabin air is replaced 100% every two minutes. These two features contribute to increased passenger and crew comfort and less fatigue.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation , a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 ™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200 ™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350 ™; the large-cabin, long-range G450 ™; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500 ™ and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 ™. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 7,900 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 81,900 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information can be found online at www.generaldynamics.com
