GD takes on Air Force network

General Dynamics Corp. will help the Air Force with its goal of streamlining information technology administration while enhancing network defense and performance under a new $10 million, 20-month contract.

The Air Force Electronic Systems Center awarded the contract to General Dynamics IT, a business unit of General Dynamics. The company will install Air Force Gateways at 13 locations worldwide to enhance security, administration and performance of the Air Force intranet.

General Dynamics received the Air Force Gateways installation task order under the Network-Centric Solutions contract.

The gateways will let the Air Force control, maintain and manage its networks at fewer facilities and significantly reduce costs, said Charlie Plummer, vice president and general manager of the Air Force IT Solutions Sector at General Dynamics IT.

"By consolidating the network, Air Force IT staff will experience greater security and ease of integration into critical warfighter systems," he said.

General Dynamics developed the Air Force Gateways architecture. The effort is one of many initiatives in the Combat Information Transport System ? a multiyear, Air Force-wide program to strategically modernize and evolve the service's network assets.

General Dynamics, of Falls Church, Va., ranks No. 6 on Washington Technology's 2008 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.