NASSCO Holds Keel-Laying Ceremony For Second T-AKE Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ship June 8, 2005 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), today held the keel-laying ceremony for the second ship in the T-AKE program, a new class of combat logistics force ships designated the Lewis and Clark class. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Ships) Allison Stiller was the honoree for the event, welding her initials into the keel to signify the beginning of full-scale production of the new ship. The first ship in the class, the USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1), was launched from NASSCO's building ways on May 21. The second ship will be named the USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) in honor of the Shoshone woman living with the Hidatsa tribe in North Dakota who acted as guide and interpreter for Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their legendary expedition into the Northwest United States from 1804-1806. "The keel-laying ceremony signifies the exciting beginning of a new ship," said Richard Vortmann, president of NASSCO. "It is a thrill for every person in the yard to see a ship take shape on the buildings ways, to watch as it is launched into San Diego Bay, and then proudly witness its delivery to the U.S. Navy to join the worldwide fleet." The T-AKE 2 is scheduled to be launched in the spring of 2006. The U.S. Navy has awarded NASSCO contracts for eight new dry cargo/ammunition ships for a total contract value to date of $2.5 billion. The T-AKE contract includes options for an additional four ships, which could eventually create a 12-ship fleet of new combat logistics force ships. A 12-ship program would have a total value of $3.7 billion and become the largest contract in NASSCO's history. The T-AKE is the first new combat logistics force ship designed for the Navy in almost 20 years. It is the first to combine lower-cost commercial ship design features with high-performance, proven international marine technologies, such as integrated electric-drive propulsion. NASSCO developed the design for the ship, working closely with the Military Sealift Command, whose civilian mariners will operate the T-AKEs, and the Naval Sea Systems Command, the Navy's program manager and technical authority. In addition to the eight T-AKEs, NASSCO is currently building the third and fourth of four double-hull oil tankers for BP Shipping Company of Alaska. "Our 10-ship backlog affirms NASSCO's position as both the leading U.S. builder of commercial ships and the U.S. Navy's 'Center of Excellence' for the construction of auxiliary and support ships," Vortmann added. Information about NASSCO can be obtained at www.nassco.com. General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 70,100 people worldwide and had 2004 revenue of $19.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation. More information about the company is available at www.generaldynamics.com.

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