General Dynamics finishes buy of Spectrum Astro

General Dynamics Corp. completed its acquisition of Spectrum Astro Inc., a manufacturer of space systems, satellites and ground-support equipment, for an undisclosed sum, the company said Friday.

It entered into a definitive agreement to buy Spectrum Astro in March.

Based in Gilbert, Ariz., Spectrum Astro has about 525 employees, who are now part of the 3,400 workers that General Dynamics C4 Systems unit employs in Scottsdale, Ariz. The unit specializes in command and control systems, communication networking, and computing and information assurance for defense, government and commercial customers in the United States and abroad. It has more than 7,000 employees worldwide.

"Spectrum Astro brings General Dynamics valuable experience in missile-defense and key NASA space business segments, and further enhances our ability to meet requirements for satellite-based systems in support of a network-centric approach to warfighting," said Mark Fried, president of General Dynamics C4 Systems.

Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., General Dynamics provides mission-critical information systems and technologies, combat systems, armaments and munitions, shipbuilding and marine systems and business aviation to federal and commercial clients. It employs approximately 68,400 workers worldwide and had revenue of $16.6 billion in 2003. The company is no. 6 on Washington Technology's 2004 Top 100 list of government contractors, ranked according to their prime IT contracting revenue.