General Dynamics NASSCO Lays Keel of the Future USNS Washington Chambers

SAN DIEGO – General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today laid the keel for USNS Washington Chambers, the eleventh ship of the Lewis and Clark class of dry cargo-ammunition ships (T-AKE). Construction of the Washington Chambers began in March. The ship is named in honor of the naval officer who oversaw the development of the U.S. Navy’s aviation program. NASSCO is scheduled to deliver the ship to the Navy in the first quarter of 2011.

NASSCO has delivered seven T-AKE ships to the Navy and is under contract to build five additional T-AKE ships, including the Washington Chambers. The Navy has also provided long-lead material funding to NASSCO for two more ships for a total class of 14 T-AKE vessels.

Located in San Diego, NASSCO employs more than 4,500 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. In addition to the T-AKE program, the shipyard is also building a series of product carriers for American Petroleum Tankers, a shipbuilding joint venture led by the Blackstone Financial Group. Additional information on NASSCO can be found at www.nassco.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,000 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 General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

# # #