CHARLOTTE, N.C. -– General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products has been awarded a $94.6 million contract by the U.S. Army to produce reactive armor tiles for 440 Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

Deliveries are expected to begin in early 2011 and be completed by summer 2012. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

General Dynamics’ reactive armor system is comprised of tiles that fasten to the exterior of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, allowing it to better withstand direct hits from a variety of anti-armor munitions.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command in Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., awarded the contract in August 2010. Work will be performed at the General Dynamics’ facility in McHenry, Miss., and program management will be performed in Burlington, Vt. As a strategic partner, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Ordnance and Protection Division, will share the production workload in Haifa, Israel. The company has produced reactive armor tiles for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle since 1996.

“Our reactive armor tiles are light-weight and provide an increased level of equipment and troop protection against shaped-charge and improvised threats,” said Russ Klein, vice president and general manager of weapon systems for General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.