General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas Presents Leopardo 2E MBT and Pizarro Combat Vehicle at IDEX 07

MADRID, Spain, February 14 /PRNewswire/ --

General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, a part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems, is presenting the Leopardo 2E Main Battle Tank (MBT) and the VCIC Pizarro Infantry Combat Vehicle for the first time at IDEX 07 -- being held in Abu Dhabi from 18 to 22 February -- to demonstrate their operational capabilities and mobility in desert conditions. General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The two vehicles, in service with the Spanish Army, will carry out a Mobility Demonstration on 18 and 20 February at IDEX 07. Both have been brought to IDEX with the support of the International Golden Group (IGG).

The Leopardo 2E is built by General Dynamics under license from Krauss-Maffei Wegman, while the VCIC Pizarro was developed jointly by General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas and the Austrian company Steyr, also part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems.

Alfonso Ramonet, managing director of General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, said, "This is a very important step for us, presenting our two leading military platforms to potential customers for the first time in the Gulf."

"The MBT Leopardo and the VCIC Pizarro demonstrate both the high technical levels demanded by the Spanish Army and the ability of the Spanish defence industry to meet those needs," he added.

The Leopardo 2E is the most advanced armoured MBT in service with the Spanish Army. Deliveries of 219 tanks will be completed in 2008.

The Spanish Army has operated the VCIC Pizarro since the beginning of the decade, with a follow-up order for 212 vehicles -- including command, forward observed, recovery and engineering variants.

General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas (http://www.gdsbs.com) has 1900 employees at nine sites in Spain. It is the main supplier of combat vehicles, artillery solutions and ammunition to the Spanish Army. Its products are fielded in 47 countries. Current projects include the second phase of the Pizarro, the Leopardo 2E MBT under license from KMW, and the 155/52 Howitzer SIAC for ground and coastal applications.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 81,000 people worldwide and had 2006 revenues of US$24.1 billion. More information is available at http://www.generaldynamics.com.

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