General Dynamics Wins $250M Deal For Prophet SIGNIT System

Defense giant General Dynamics Corp.’s (NYSE:GD) Mission Systems business unit has won a contract to modify, test, train and sustain the Prophet system. Work related to this deal is scheduled to be over by Jun 15, 2022.

Valued at $250 million, this contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Locations for work as well as funding will be finalized with each order.

A Brief Note on Prophet System

Prophet is a 24-hour, all-weather, near-real-time, ground-based, tactical Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare (EW) system. It serves as the principal SIGNIT and EW system for the U.S. Army and armored cavalry regiment commander.

Prophet provides near-real-time digital information to the Army division's common operating picture (COP), enhancing the tactical commander's capabilities in electronic intelligence battle-space visualization. It is integrated with battlefield sensors such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), the Guardrail Common Sensor, Artillery Counter Mortar/Battery radars, and Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control/FAADC2. The Prophet Enhanced is an improved version of the Prophet SIGNIT, designed for integration into the US Army's Medium Mine Protected Vehicles (MMPV).

Why General Dynamics?

General Dynamics’ Mission Systems unit is a leading integrator of C4ISR systems for land, sea, air, space and cyber defense. It boasts an established global presence in secure communications systems, command and control systems, imagery sensors, and cyber products. This unit falls under the company’s Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) business division.

This segment offers high-assurance mission and display systems, signal and sensor processing and command-and-control solutions for airborne platforms. Its aircraft mission computers are on the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter and the Marine Corps’ AV-8B Harrier II aircraft, giving pilots advanced situational awareness and combat systems control.

As a whole, General Dynamics engages in mission-critical information systems and technologies, land and expeditionary combat vehicles, armaments and munitions, shipbuilding and marine systems, and business aviation. It is the leading tank and artillery ammunition producer providing high-performance ammunition to the U.S. armed forces.

During the first quarter of 2017, the IS&T segment generated revenues worth $2,146 million, representing 17.3% of the company’s total revenue. We can expect strong demand for its reliable products and frequent contract wins, like the aforementioned ones, to substantially boost this segment’s top line growth in the coming days.

Price Performance

Shares of General Dynamics have rallied 43.8% over the last 12 months, outperforming the Zacks categorized Aerospace–Defense industry’s gain of 26.8%. This could be because General Dynamics consistently maintains a strategic alliance with the U.S. Department of Defense that allows it to enjoy a steady flow of contracts. It also offers strong competition to its peers like Boeing (NYSE:BA) , Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) and Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) .

Zacks Rank

General Dynamics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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