FAIRFAX, Va., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded a $22.2 million contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to support the Naval Integrated Tactical Environmental System Next Generation (NITES-Next) program. The contract has a potential value of $67.7 million over five years if all options are exercised.

Through the contract, General Dynamics will design, develop, integrate, test and support the deployment of NITES-Next, which displays tailored meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) products on mission-planning and command-and-control systems. NITES-Next is a net-centric solution based on a service-oriented architecture. This solution will employ geographic information systems (GIS), support physics-based modeling and implement an advanced database design. NITES-Next will make METOC products available across the Global Information Grid (GIG) in a joint environment. The work will be performed in Newport, R.I.; San Diego, Calif.; and Bay St. Louis, Miss.

"General Dynamics is excited to work with SPAWAR and the U.S. Navy to deliver a next generation tactical environmental system that will assist with safe passage and provide complete environmental assessment and situational awareness necessary for successful military operations," said Kenneth Slaght, vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Information Technology's Naval IT Solutions sector.

As a trusted systems integrator for more than 50 years, General Dynamics Information Technology provides information technology (IT), systems engineering and professional services to customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, federal civilian government and commercial sectors. With approximately 16,000 professionals worldwide, the company manages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs delivering IT services and enterprise solutions. More information about General Dynamics Information Technology is available at www.gdit.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

SOURCE General Dynamics Information Technology