General Dynamics acquires defence operations of Gayston Corp

Defence contractor General Dynamics yesterday said that it has acquired the defence operations of privately held Gayston Corp, a supplier of precision metal components used in munitions programs, including the Hydra-70 rocket for military helicopters.

Fairfax, Virginia-based General Dynamics did not disclose the financial terms of the deal, but the acquisition comes a week after it proposed to buy Fidelis Security Systems Inc, a cyber-security company that provides real-time network visibility, analysis and control, for an undisclosed sum.

Gayston's defense operations employ 187 people at a state-of-the-art facility in Springboro, Ohio, which is optimised for aluminum impact extrusion manufacturing.

Among its products, Gayston manufactures rocket motor tubes for the US Army's Hydra-70 air-to-ground rocket programme. It also provides liners and cartridges for 40mm ammunition rounds and components for 60-120mm mortar rounds to a variety of customers. 

The defense operations of Gayston will become part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a provider of high-performance weapon and armament systems, composite products and heavy-duty off-road axle and suspension systems to the US military, allied forces and commercial customers.

''The acquisition of Gayston's defense operations expands our critical manufacturing capability to cost-efficiently produce high-precision parts in large quantities,'' said Michael Mulligan, president of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products.