General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, has been awarded two contracts by Lockheed Martin for the production of GAU-22/A gun systems for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter aircraft. The contracts have a combined value of nearly $9 million.

The F-35 Lightning II internal gun system is based on a derivative of General Dynamics’ proven GAU-12/U 25mm Gatling gun. It will be used on the F-35 Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) variant and will include the GAU-22/A gun and its associated components. General Dynamics is also developing an external gun system for other variants of the F-35.

According to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Gun Systems Program Manager Howard Brott, ” In addition, the 25mm GAU-22/A brings increased range in air-to-air engagements compared to the 20mm guns common on today’s fighters.”

Production is scheduled to begin immediately and extend through August 2010 at General Dynamics’ Saco, Maine, facility, the company’s primary facility for production of single and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems. The Saco operations provide complete production capabilities, from design and development to manufacturing, testing and integration.

Program management will be performed at General Dynamics’ Burlington, Vt.-based Technology Center, which is the company’s engineering center of excellence.