News

February 9th 2010 - General Dynamics UK and Defence Support Group sign FRES SV agreement

General Dynamics UK and the MoD’s Defence Support Group (DSG) have signed a high-level agreement on the FRES Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme.  The Memorandum of Understanding would see substantial work taking place at DSG’s Donnington facilities and become the basis for a long-term relationship in support of the UK’s defence industrial capabilities.  
 
Sandy Wilson, President and Managing Director of General Dynamics UK, said: “This agreement builds on the strong working relationship between DSG and General Dynamics UK, as Bowman prime contractor and systems integrator, on the Army’s current fleet.  It offers substantial value to the UK industrial base.”

Archie Hughes, Chief Executive of DSG, said: “I very much welcome this agreement, which reflects the capabilities of DSG and its workforce.  It would pair the skills of two of the UK’s leading Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) workforces, maintaining and enhancing the UK’s sovereign capability to develop and upgrade AFVs in the long term.”

General Dynamics is offering ASCOD SV, the latest development of a proven European AFV family, for FRES SV.  Designed to a rating of 42 tonnes and with a transmission rated at 45 tonnes, ASCOD SV offers excellent protection against current and future threats, a common base platform that fully meets the FRES SV requirement, and substantial growth potential for future enhancement.