Forms Space Systems Division : General Dynamics Splits Convair

General Dynamics Corp. said Thursday that it has divided its Convair division in two, forming a new Space Systems division to coordinate space-oriented and strategic systems programs.

About one-third of San Diego-based Convair’s 12,300 workers were shifted Thursday to the new division, according to General Dynamics spokesman Jack Isabel, who added that overall employment is not expected to increase.

The new division will take over Convair’s work on the Atlas and Atlas/Centaur launch vehicle programs. It also will coordinate General Dynamics’ commercial space operations, strategic systems and “several things for the Air Force that we don’t talk about,” spokesman Charles A. Brown said.

Convair will continue to work on advanced systems programs, such as the cruise missile and the advanced cruise missile, and to make fuselages for the KC-10 cargo and refueling plane.

Announcement of the new division was made only two weeks after Convair lost its bid to become one of six aerospace firms selected by NASA to conduct preliminary work on the $8-billion U.S. space station program.

Despite the setback, there are enough space projects to justify a new division, according to David S. Lewis, chairman and chief executive of St. Louis-based General Dynamics. Convair generated about $1 billion in revenue in 1984, or nearly 13% of General Dynamics’ total revenue. The separation of Convair into two divisions will not affect any labor pacts, Isabel said.

About half of Convair’s work force is blue collar, and most are represented by the International Assn. of Machinists.

John E. McSweeny, Convair’s general manager, will continue in his position. Alan M. Lovelace, a General Dynamics vice president of productivity and quality assurance, has been named general manager of the Space Systems division.