ADELAIDE, SA, Australia –- General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia (GDLS-A), a business unit of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada in London, Ontario, received a five year, AU$44.8m Through Life Support contract today.

The contract also includes a one year phase-in period.

The Through Life Support services will deliver enhanced fleet availability of the Army’s ASLAV wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, M1A1 Abrams tanks, and M88A2 Heavy Recovery vehicles. Ongoing spare parts, repairs, maintenance and engineering tasks will be ordered as required through this integrated support contract. It also provides the opportunity for stronger relationships with the Commonwealth and local industry.

The contract will change the mechanisms and business processes between the Commonwealth and General Dynamics in Australia to improve efficiency, reduce costs and promote value. The contract also includes the implementation of a performance management framework for the services, which contributes toward the Commonwealth Strategic Reform Program (SRP). This provides the basis for awarding up to 15, one-year contract extensions based on performance. The low risk Through Life Support solution is founded on local and experienced capability; leveraging the full range of original equipment manufacturer engineering, technical support network and product service centres.

Gary Stewart, Managing Director of General Dynamics Land Systems - Australia, said the performance-based contract provides an adaptable framework to ensure sustainable, dependable and high quality service delivery.

“We have leveraged our extensive experience in implementing and executing performance-based support contracts for other customers, which has enabled us to incorporate attributes such as cost transparency, continuous improvement and application of lean initiatives,” Stewart said. “Our service delivery model is flexible, enabling effective change and ongoing service delivery in response to the Commonwealth’s constantly changing operational and support environments.”

Stewart added that the contract enables the repair, maintenance and upgrade of combat vehicle fleets to remain a strategic industry capability within Australia.

“The long range focus of this program also presents the opportunity for Australian industry to participate in General Dynamics’ global supply chain,” Stewart said. “We look forward to engaging with Australian companies as part of our design, manufacturing and sustainment transfer initiatives for this contract and other programs.”