News Release
FAA CERTIFIES INFRARED COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEM FOR USE ON THREE MORE GULFSTREAM BUSINESS JETS
Missile-Jamming System Now Available on Seven Gulfstream Aircraft Models
SAVANNAH, Ga., May 6, 2003 - Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), now offers the BAE System AN/ALQ-204 Matador Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) system for its large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550™ and Gulfstream G500™ business jets. The supplemental type certificate, recently issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, also authorizes this passenger- and aircraft-protection system to be retrofitted onto the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream V® business jet aircraft.
"G550, G500 and GV customers and operators can now opt for the same level of safety the IRCM system has delivered to GIV customers for the past three years," said Bryan Moss, president, Gulfstream. "These ultra-long-range aircraft fly around the world, including certain regions where there are threats to civil aircraft. IRCM is the only effective and reliable response to accidental or intentional missile assaults on business aircraft."
The IRCM has been available for both the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G400™ and the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G300™ aircraft since they were introduced at last year's National Business Aviation Association's Annual Meeting and Convention. First certified by the FAA for use on the Gulfstream IV® in 2000, the IRCM continues to be available as a retrofit for the GIV-series aircraft - the GIV and the Gulfstream IV-SP® - the best-selling large-cabin, long-range business jet aircraft in history.
To date, the FAA-certified Matador has been installed on one GIV, one G400 and six GIV-SP aircraft. Another system has been ordered for a G400 business jet aircraft that will be delivered during the third quarter of this year.
"The IRCM continues to draw a great deal of attention from business jet owners and operators - including military, corporations, charter companies and private owners - as terrorism continues to threaten certain regions of the world," said Dobie Gilfillan, IRCM program manager for Gulfstream. "Designed to protect the lives of passengers and crews as well as valuable aircraft, IRCM is an invaluable asset to operators who are looking for the most reliable systems to counter missile launches from heat-seeking weapons."
Twenty-two countries, including the United States, use Gulfstream aircraft to transport their heads of state. Gulfstream aircraft performance and reliability also allow them to serve in a variety of roles, including electronic intelligence gathering, multi-purpose transport, aerial surveillance, medical evacuation and weather research.
NOTE TO EDITOR
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 1,300 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 mid-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G100™; the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200™; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G300™; the large-cabin, long-range Gulfstream G400™; 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 7,400 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, Va., employs approximately 57,000 people worldwide and had 2002 revenues of $13.8 billion. The company has leading market positions in land and amphibious combat systems, mission-critical information systems and technologies, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation. More information about the company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.generaldynamics.com.
