General Dynamics scores $100M machine gun deal

[The Straight Story]

General Dynamics scores $100M machine gun deal

General Dynamics Corp. reports its Armament and Technical Products division has won a $100 million contract from the U.S. Army for machine guns.

Under the four-year deal, General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) will produce its M2 flex machine gun — a belt-feed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served weapon. The guns will be manufactured at General Dynamics’ facility in Saco, Maine, with the deal managed out of the company’s office in Burlington, Vt. Work on the deal is expected to be completed by April 2012.

Last week, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. landed $42 million from the U.S. Navy for submarine maintenance and modernization. Under the contract, the Groton, Conn.-based General Dynamics subsidiary will plan and perform routine maintenance and modernization work, including engineering, procurement, repairs, maintenance, modernization and testing, on the U.S.S. Springfield (SSN-761), a Los Angeles-class attack submarine.

General Dynamics, based in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The defense contractor reported a 2008 net income of $2.46 billion on revenue of $29.3 billion.

http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2009/08/24/daily30-General-Dynamics-scores-100M-machine-gun-deal.html

[JeanGrey]

1. Awesome. Glad for the jobs. Sounds like a cool gun,

wish I could fire one.

[Statistical]

2. The M2 was invented in 1921 and is just as effective today (how many things can say that)

The M2 our squad brought to Iraq had an original armory stamp that indicated it was fielded in WWII below that it had a second stamp when Japanese troops must have captured it (I wonder what happened to it's crew) and then restamped when it was recaptured by Allied troops.

They simply work. Compared to billion dollar high tech fighters this is money well spent.

Simple tool, operates well, virtually never jams, just keep it lubed and it runs all day. The 0.50 cal round can penetrate improvised defenses, light armored vehicles, and small bunkers.

It is a very simple design that has only been slightly modified once in 80 years.
These weapons if built as well as the originals will be still working 100 years from now.

[hunter]

3. I've heard durable goods orders are up...

Let's party!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. The "Masters of War." War and death are profitable enterprises.

Masters Of War

Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build the big bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You've thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know
To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
Even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Let me ask you one question
Is your money that good
Will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could
I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket
In the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave
'Til I'm sure that you're dead

Bob Dylan

[arcadian]

5. Wow, people cheering on a weapons manufacturer.

DU really has changed over the years.

[Kaleva]

7. It's change we can believe in.

[aikoaiko]

6. ma deuce --still formidible.

Useful on vehicles, too.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

8. Sounds like people won't get laid off from those companies.