Who we are
General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited is a subsidiary of the United States-based defence and security corporation General Dynamics. We deliver solutions in two main areas: Land Systems and Mission Systems. Our story began when we opened our first office in 1962 in London, where we served as a marketing outlet for Computing Devices Canada.
In 1974, we moved to Hastings, East Sussex, where we supplied avionics to platforms such as the Tornado GR1, Harrier GR7, Nimrod MR2 and Eurofighter Typhoon. In 2001, following award of the UK MoD Bowman contract, we opened our new headquarters in Oakdale, South Wales. The Bowman system, to equip 20,000 vehicles, 149 naval vessels, 350 aircraft and 100,000 service personnel, was successfully delivered in 2004, and we continue to support upgrades and integration of the system.
After winning the contract to supply the British Army with a family of armoured fighting vehicles to meet the requirements of its Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) programme, we opened our assembly integration and testing facility for AJAX in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. The first variant of the AJAX family, the ARES, was delivered to the British Army in July 2020. We are also proud to produce and deliver Foxhound vehicles for light infantry and specialist troops on operations.
Today, we are one of the UK’s largest defence companies and a lead supplier to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Our sites
Hastings
Our sites in Hastings, East Sussex, provide leading advanced avionic solutions across multiple platforms for the UK and international allied forces. Mission Systems has been based in Hastings since 1974 and now operate two sites, covering development and manufacturing. We provide complete system solutions for situational awareness, secure communications providing air-land integration, weaponisation solutions, and data at rest security for fixed and rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. We integrate mature products and technology onto key platforms, including Eurofighter Typhoon, Hawk, AW101, M-346, Tornado, F-16 and AW159 Wildcat (Future Lynx), as well as the manufacture and maintenance of tactical communications equipment for ground vehicles. Our 45,000-square-foot dedicated manufacturing, testing and repair facility delivers high-quality avionics systems to many customers and platforms.
Merthyr Tydfil
Land Systems’ 57-acre site in Merthyr, South Wales, is the largest active armoured vehicle production facility in the UK and a specialised engineering hub for the AJAX Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the British Army. Hosting 236,000 square feet of flexible manufacturing space for armoured fighting vehicles – both wheeled and tracked – and including a heavy-duty test track with obstacles and test facilities, warehousing, supply chain and quality control operations, this site has structured ties with the local community and provides a strong local supply chain.
Oakdale
Our site in Oakdale, South Wales, is home to both Mission Systems and Land Systems. Mission Systems provides leading tactical communications systems – including Bowman, the British Army’s Tactical Communication and Information System (CIS), Tactical Networking, Computing & Displays and Vehicle Electronics. On-site, we have our state-of-the-art Mission Suite, which hosts multiple demos and kit, including our Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) products, Land Deployable Gateway, and our Internal Research and Development (IRAD) offerings. Our Land Systems business hosts the System Integration Facility, showcasing Bowman/AJAX integration.
Our people
Our colleagues are the heart of our business. That’s why we prioritise investing in their growth and development, providing ample opportunities for training and professional development, and more. Our culture encourages creative thinking and problem-solving, empowering our colleagues to bring their innovative ideas to life.
But don’t take our word for it – read what our colleagues have to say.
Our Community
Community involvement is at the core of everything we do. We are dedicated to supporting our communities and giving back to them in the same way that they give to us. We are passionate about youth outreach and support young people with STEM initiatives across the UK. General Dynamics UK was a founding member of the Women In Defence Charter, which improves gender balance in the defence sector. In addition to supporting local charities, we are proud to support our Armed Forces community through charities such as Army Benevolent Fund – The Soldier’s Charity, Combat Stress, and SSAFA. Learn more.
Our suppliers
We understand that collaboration with our suppliers can lead to innovation. That is why we work with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to support their research and technological breakthroughs, integrate their products and services into our solutions, and give them the opportunity to compete on a larger scale. This allows us to ensure we are always delivering the best solutions to our customers.