Boeing and FCS Partners announce the start of work on 'non-line-of-sight' cannon

Boeing and its partner Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), lead systems integrator for the US Army's future combat systems (FCS) programme, with industry team mates BAE Systems and General Dynamics, have selected Elgin, Okla., as a principal site for FCS manned ground vehicle (MGV) integration and assembly work.

SAIC is a provider of scientific, engineering, systems integration and technical services and solutions to all branches of the US military, agencies of the department of defence, the intelligence community, the US department of homeland security and other US government civil agencies, as well as to customers in selected commercial markets.

FCS MGV partner BAE Systems will construct and manage a 150,000 square-foot facility at the Ft. Sill Industrial Park in Elgin. The facility will initially house production integration and assembly activities for the non-line-of-sight cannon (NLOS-C) initial production platform, the first of eight FCS vehicle variants. Completion of the new facility is anticipated in 2009.

"The selection of Elgin represents a collaborative effort by industry, government and community leaders to bring growth to the region and to develop and field a family of more survivable, more agile and more sustainable MGVs that will provide unprecedented benefits to our soldiers," said Dennis Muilenburg, vice president-general manager, Boeing combat systems, and FCS programme manager.

"The FCS MGV effort is on track and transitioning into the advanced stages of development and initial production, and Elgin and the state of Oklahoma will play an essential role in helping the FCS One Team achieve a common goal of getting FCS capabilities into the hands of war fighters as soon as possible."

"I am extremely pleased that Boeing and the FCS team are bringing this important work to Elgin," said Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). "The 'non-line-of-sight' cannon is the first of several FCS manned ground vehicles to be produced for the U.S. Army that will ensure our soldiers have battlefield capabilities second to none."