General Dynamics Canada Strengthens Halifax-Class Modernization Bid with Addition of Raytheon
CSI Halifax Team Prepares Response To Government Request For Proposal

OTTAWA, Ontario — General Dynamics Canada today announced that Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, an industry leader in equipment and integration expertise, has joined the CSI Halifax Team that is responding to the Canadian Navy’s $1.1 billion Halifax Class Modernization (HCM) – Combat Systems Integration (CSI) program.

Acting as the prime contractor, General Dynamics Canada is leading a team that also includes defence industry suppliers Thales Netherlands, Thales Canada and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. The strategic addition of Raytheon further strengthens the CSI Halifax Team as Raytheon brings with it proven combat systems integration experience with shipyards worldwide.

“The CSI Halifax Team has been carefully selected to leverage Canadian experience and international best practices that will mitigate risk and deliver a best in class solution to the Canadian Navy,” said John Watts, president of General Dynamics Canada. “With Raytheon, we add recent and relevant naval experience specific to Canada’s HALIFAX-class frigates, providing important continuity for the Canadian Navy and further mitigating risk to the program.”

Raytheon is intimately familiar with the HALIFAX-class frigates, having manufactured the SPS-49 radar, Sea Sparrow Missile, Mk 46 torpedoes and the Phalanx close-in weapons system that are currently onboard the ships.

The federal government is proceeding with mid-life upgrades to the HALIFAX-class naval frigates, including HCM/FELEX Combat Systems Integration (CSI) program, a technology insertion project that aims to replace the frigate’s Command and Control system and provide enhanced support to the Command Task Group (CTG) at sea and in littoral environments. A Request for Proposal (RFP) on HCM-CSI was issued last week.

Canada’s twelve HALIFAX-class frigates, which were commissioned between 1992 and 1996, form the backbone of the Canadian Navy’s surface combat force. Now at mid-life, the ships require an upgrade to respond to naval threats that today are faster, stealthier, more maneuverable and often occur in demanding littoral environments.

Headquartered in Ottawa, Raytheon Canada employs 1400 people across the country with a significant presence in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Ontario. The CSI Halifax Team is leveraging its cross-Canada foot print and the combined talents of 4,800 employees to offer the Canadian Navy the preferred solution for the HCM-CSI program.

About General Dynamics
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 83,500 people worldwide and reported 2007 revenues of more than $27.2 billion. 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 online at www.generaldynamics.com.