General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a $23 million contract by Spirit AeroSystems in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to produce winglets for commercial business-jet aircraft.
GDATP will produce and deliver composite winglets to Spirit AeroSystems, which then will assemble them onto wings for delivery. Production of the winglets will begin immediately at the company's Marion, Virginia, facility, with deliveries starting in the third quarter of 2012.
"This production contract highlights the advanced composite capabilities and aerostructures experience General Dynamics brings to its customers in the commercial aerospace market," stated Jim Losse, vice president and general manager of the company's advanced materials operation.
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' advanced materials operation designs and manufactures advanced composite structures and radomes for several types of military aircraft and for select commercial aerospace customers. The Marion facility employs approximately 450 people.
