BURLINGTON, VT - The General Dynamics Light Armored Vehicle Air Defense (LAV-AD) has achieved the U.S. Marine Corps milestone of Initial Operational Capability. This event occurred when the first Section of four LAV-ADs became combat ready and supportable at the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California.
"This is a notable event for the U.S. Marine Corps," says Mr. John Gerlach, USMC Deputy Program Manager, Light Armored Vehicles. "The LAV-AD Section is the first highly mobile, lightly armored, low altitude air defense system fielded within DoD. It very effectively replaces the man-portable Stinger missile units supporting the Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions."
The LAV-AD's primary mission is protecting the Light Armored Vehicle fleet and other Marine assets from air attack by fixed wing, rotary wing and unmanned air vehicles. It has a secondary mission of defense against ground attack. The USMC intends to have a fully operational Platoon of 16 General Dynamics LAV-ADs by the end of 1998.
General Dynamics Armament Systems (GDAS), in Burlington, Vermont manufacturers the LAV-AD. The company was awarded a $74 million dollar contract to produce the LAV-AD in December of 1995.
GDAS designs, develops and produces complete armament systems for fixed and rotary wing aircraft, land and sea-based applications. The parent company, General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), is headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. General Dynamics supplies sophisticated defense systems to the United States and its allies. Employing about 29,000 people, the company has annualized sales of approximately $5 billion.
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