General Dynamics UK Acquires Kylmar

General Dynamics UK acquired the privately held Kylmar Limited, an industry leader in the design and manufacture of sensor and optical surveillance systems for military and security applications. The value of the cash transaction, which is expected to be accretive to General Dynamics' earnings beginning in 2011, has not been disclosed.

The organisation will become part of General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited, enhancing the Company's intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance offerings and capabilities provided within the defence, security and resilience markets. Kylmar is based in Andover, Hampshire, England, and has approximately 50 employees. Kylmar has been supplying electro-optic equipment and systems into the UK military intelligence and Special Forces for counter-terrorism applications for nearly two decades. From its inception, the company has specialised in the design and manufacture of highly capable electro-optical systems deployed for long periods of time, often operating in harsh environments, where high reliability is essential to successful outcomes.

"I am delighted to welcome Kylmar to General Dynamics UK," said Dr Sandy Wilson, General Dynamics UK's president and managing director. "Their optronics expertise and products are at the core of today's defence and security needs and are used in such applications as force protection, IED detection and border/perimeter security. Their capabilities will strengthen General Dynamics UK's C4ISTAR offerings in a wide range of areas and will enable us to expand the breadth of products and services we provide to existing and new customers alike."

Wilson continued, "We acquired Kylmar because it is a high-performance organisation with talented, dedicated, customer-focused employees, and we look forward to them joining General Dynamics UK."