General Dynamics acquires Springboro defense firm

General Dynamics has acquired the defense operations of Gayston Corp. Those operations employs 187 people locally.

Privately held Gayston supplies precision metal parts to munitions programs, General Dynamic said in its announcement of the acquisition Monday. The value of the cash transaction was not disclosed.

Gayston’s defense operations in Springboro “is optimized for aluminum impact extrusion manufacturing,” General Dynamics said. Gayston manufactures rocket motor tubes for the U.S. Army’s Hydra-70 air-to-ground rocket program. It also provides liners and cartridges for 40mm ammunition rounds and components for 60-120mm mortar rounds.

The defense operations of Gayston will become part of Charlotte, N.C.-based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a provider of weapon and armament systems, composite products and heavy-duty off-road axle and suspension systems to the U.S. military.

“The acquisition of Gayston’s defense operations expands our critical manufacturing capability to cost-efficiently produce high-precision parts in large quantities,” Michael Mulligan, president of General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, said in the company’s announcement. “The acquisition also provides us with more opportunities to participate in high-performance weapon system programs.”

Rob Doolittle, a spokesman for General Dynamics, said his company has no plans to cut jobs at the Springboro facility.

“We believe it represents a growth opportunity, so we don’t have any plans to change the operations,” Doolittle said Tuesday.

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