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352 Strykers just start
GENERAL DYNAMICS: The U.S. army deal is in addition to a $1-billion contract from the Canadian Armed Forces
By NORMAN DE BONO, LONDON FREE PRESS
London's military giant has landed a $647-million deal to make 352 Stryker armoured vehicles for the U.S. army.
But that deal -- announced yesterday -- may be just the beginning of a massive new wave of business for General Dynamics Land Systems Canada.
The U.S. army is considering adding two new brigades of Strykers, more than 660 vehicles, and is awaiting budget approval.
In addition, the Oxford Street plant will get a $1-billion deal from the Department of National Defence (DND) in Canada to upgrade its LAV III vehicles, the third generation of light armoured vehicles used for the Canadian army.
"It is good news for us. . . . The Stryker has helped sustain this plant over the last decade," Ken Yama****a, spokesperson for GDLS Canada, said yesterday.
In 2002, the U.S. army took possession of the first of its 2,100 Strykers contracted to GDLS Canada -- then GM Defence -- in a $6-billion deal, the largest in London's business history.
But that order has grown slowly and steadily over the years and now just under 3,000 Strykers have been delivered to the U.S. army and an additional 800 are on order, including the 352 announced yesterday.
"With the job losses we have suffered in the auto sector, this is very good news. Any work is good for the community," said Tim Carrie, president of CAW Local 27 representing GDLS workers.
According to Army Times, a military publication, two more brigades, 664 vehicles, will soon be announced, replacing existing armoured brigades. London will get a chunk of that work.
"Planning documents obtained by Army Times say 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, will be converted to (Stryker brigades) beginning in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012, respectively, and will take 24 months to become fully operational," stated the article.
"The move to convert two heavy brigades to Stryker units signals the army's shift toward a lighter, more quickly deployable formation that is infantry-focused and proven to be highly mobile in diverse environments."
GDLS will likely know by early in the new year what the U.S. army will do, but support has grown in recent years for the Stryker, said Pete Keating, vice-president, communications, for GDLS in Sterling Heights, Mich.
"It has been shown a middle- weight force (lighter than tanks, heavier than other armoured vehicles) is very valuable," he said. "We will see how it plays out. We will know by February and maybe sooner as the forces are going through a defence review. It has not been formally approved."
The hull for all Strykers are made here in London and then sent to GDLS plants in either Ohio or Alabama for additional work. There are 10 different versions of the Stryker, everything from a mobile command office to a communications centre and a mobile gun platform.
As for the $647-million deal, it will see new Strykers built to replace ones lost in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Others are for training in the U.S., said Keating.
"It is in very high demand. They are mobile and cover a wide area and heavy armour (tanks) are difficult to deploy everywhere," said Keating. "They will be reducing the number of tracked vehicles and personnel carriers and relying more on the Stryker brigades in both theatres."
GDLS and DND are working on the Canadian deal. "We are in the definition phase, working with them to see what will be the contract," said Yama****a.
yasuh
GENERAL DYNAMICS: The U.S. army deal is in addition to a $1-billion contract from the Canadian Armed Forces
By NORMAN DE BONO, LONDON FREE PRESS
London's military giant has landed a $647-million deal to make 352 Stryker armoured vehicles for the U.S. army.
But that deal -- announced yesterday -- may be just the beginning of a massive new wave of business for General Dynamics Land Systems Canada.
The U.S. army is considering adding two new brigades of Strykers, more than 660 vehicles, and is awaiting budget approval.
In addition, the Oxford Street plant will get a $1-billion deal from the Department of National Defence (DND) in Canada to upgrade its LAV III vehicles, the third generation of light armoured vehicles used for the Canadian army.
"It is good news for us. . . . The Stryker has helped sustain this plant over the last decade," Ken Yama****a, spokesperson for GDLS Canada, said yesterday.
In 2002, the U.S. army took possession of the first of its 2,100 Strykers contracted to GDLS Canada -- then GM Defence -- in a $6-billion deal, the largest in London's business history.
But that order has grown slowly and steadily over the years and now just under 3,000 Strykers have been delivered to the U.S. army and an additional 800 are on order, including the 352 announced yesterday.
"With the job losses we have suffered in the auto sector, this is very good news. Any work is good for the community," said Tim Carrie, president of CAW Local 27 representing GDLS workers.
According to Army Times, a military publication, two more brigades, 664 vehicles, will soon be announced, replacing existing armoured brigades. London will get a chunk of that work.
"Planning documents obtained by Army Times say 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, will be converted to (Stryker brigades) beginning in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012, respectively, and will take 24 months to become fully operational," stated the article.
"The move to convert two heavy brigades to Stryker units signals the army's shift toward a lighter, more quickly deployable formation that is infantry-focused and proven to be highly mobile in diverse environments."
GDLS will likely know by early in the new year what the U.S. army will do, but support has grown in recent years for the Stryker, said Pete Keating, vice-president, communications, for GDLS in Sterling Heights, Mich.
"It has been shown a middle- weight force (lighter than tanks, heavier than other armoured vehicles) is very valuable," he said. "We will see how it plays out. We will know by February and maybe sooner as the forces are going through a defence review. It has not been formally approved."
The hull for all Strykers are made here in London and then sent to GDLS plants in either Ohio or Alabama for additional work. There are 10 different versions of the Stryker, everything from a mobile command office to a communications centre and a mobile gun platform.
As for the $647-million deal, it will see new Strykers built to replace ones lost in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Others are for training in the U.S., said Keating.
"It is in very high demand. They are mobile and cover a wide area and heavy armour (tanks) are difficult to deploy everywhere," said Keating. "They will be reducing the number of tracked vehicles and personnel carriers and relying more on the Stryker brigades in both theatres."
GDLS and DND are working on the Canadian deal. "We are in the definition phase, working with them to see what will be the contract," said Yama****a.
yasuh