General Dynamics subsidiaries land new defense contracts

Subsidiaries of Reston-based Fortune 500 contractor General Dynamics Corp. have received multiple defense contracts in recent weeks totaling more than $1.6 billion with the potential for more.

On Thursday, the Pentagon announced that the company’s San Diego-based National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. received an $890 million modification to a contract for construction of the seventh and eighth ships in the Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers. The contract includes an option for a third oiler that, if exercised, would bring the contract value to more than $1.6 billion. That same day, the Pentagon announced that the shipbuilder had also received a $535 million modification to another contract for construction of Expeditionary Sea Base 8, a flexible platform that supports a range of military operations, including deployment of forces and supplies. The awards add to another $600 million previously announced by the Pentagon in June for work on both programs.

Construction of the ships is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and continue to 2027, General Dynamics’ NASSCO said in a news release Friday.

“NASSCO is committed to working together with the Navy to deliver these much needed ships to the fleet,” Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO, said in a statement. “As partners with the Navy, we remain dedicated to ensuring the success of both of these programs to help enhance and expand the Navy’s forward presence and warfighting capabilities while providing sustained growth for our workforce.”

On Friday, Falls Church-based General Dynamics Information Technology Inc. announced it was awarded a $267 million contract to provide the Army National Guard with an integrated network operations center from which the contractor will operate, maintain and secure a ranging enterprise network in an unclassified and classified environment around the clock.

The network provides soldiers access to the internet and allows them to connect securely to databases and other networks, while allowing Army leadership access to tools for training, mission planning and execution. It is among the Department of Defense’s largest networks, with more than 124,000 users at 3,000 locations across the globe.

The award was made July 7 and includes a one-year base with three option years.

“This contract will advance the Army National Guard’s networking capabilities and enable its soldiers to be better connected and prepared in support of critical missions,” said Brian Sheridan, senior vice president for GDIT’s defense division. “As a long-time partner of the Army National Guard, we are looking forward to implementing innovative solutions to advance its mission readiness.”

General Dynamics Corp., an aerospace and defense contractor that employs more than 100,000 people worldwide, generated $38.5 billion in revenue in 2021.