GULFSTREAM TO EXPAND WESTFIELD SITE

Number Of Employees Will Nearly Double

WESTFIELD, Mass., October 7, 2011 – Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that it will expand its service center at the Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Mass. The company will invest approximately $20 million to build a 100,000-square-foot maintenance facility adjacent to the existing 85,000-square-foot one. The growth is expected to result in 100 additional Gulfstream jobs, a nearly 80 percent increase over the size of Gulfstream's Westfield workforce.

“In the second quarter, we had the largest number of orders for new aircraft since the economic downturn began,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. “At the same time, flying hours have increased, resulting in record-setting service demand. This expansion is part of our long-range plan to ensure our service network remains well-positioned to serve our customers and our growing installed fleet, especially in the heavily traveled Northeast corridor.”

Gulfstream announced the expansion in the presence of its employees as well as state and local dignitaries, including Gov. Deval Patrick.

“Massachusetts is leading the nation in economic recovery, thanks to companies like Gulfstream that are expanding right here in the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Patrick. “Because of our investments in innovation, education and infrastructure, Massachusetts is a great place for business, and I thank Gulfstream for adding these 100 new jobs and the economic benefits that will follow.”

The current Westfield facility has been part of the Gulfstream Product Support network since August 1998, when Gulfstream acquired K-C Aviation from Kimberly-Clark Corp. The Westfield location offers a wide range of services − from aircraft-on-ground support to extensive hourly and calendar-driven airframe inspections, avionics installations and interior refurbishment upgrades. The facility is certified on large- and mid-cabin Gulfstream aircraft, as well as Hawker, Falcon and Challenger aircraft.

“We are committed to the areas where our employees live and work,” Burns said. “And we certainly appreciate the support of Governor Patrick and his team and that of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, as well as the efforts of the Barnes Regional Airport Commission, the Westfield City Council, the Massachusetts Housing & Economic Development Council and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in supporting this expansion.”

Gulfstream is also expanding its Savannah facilities through a $500-million, seven-year plan that is expected to result in 1,000 additional Gulfstream jobs, an increase of more than 15 percent. 

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 2,000 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 new large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G280®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350®; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G450®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550® and the ultra-large-cabin, ultra-long-range G650®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales®. The company employs more than 11,500 people at 10 major locations. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 88,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available on the Internet at www.generaldynamics.com.