Oshkosh Corp. has a new contract from the U.S. Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to build and supply 400 MRAP all-terrain vehicles (M-ATV) with integrated underbody protection. Through its Oshkosh Defense subsidiary, the specialty vehicle OEM has logged orders for over 8,700 M-ATVs to date, more than 8,000 of which have been delivered for combat operations in Afghanistan.
The new order is valued at over $207 million, and according to Oshkosh deliveries will begin in October for completion by November. Earlier this year the company reported a contract worth almost $102 million to deliver 2,000 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) under-body improvement kits.
Oshkosh manufactures specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, and Oshkosh Defense designs and manufactures tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles. Its products include conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons.
The M-ATV is designed for protection and mobility on “unimproved road networks” and off-road terrain, as in Afghanistan, the contractor explained. The M-ATV bolt-on armor design makes it possible to enhance protection “in theatre, ” and the vehicle uses the Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system for added flexibility, so the M-ATV can take on additional bolt-on armor and protection kits while maintaining a payload of up to 4,000 pounds.
“The battle-proven Oshkosh M-ATV is designed and built to give troops the best combination of protection and mobility on the battlefield,” stated Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager for Joint Programs Ken Juergens.
Oshkosh also took a contract to continue its field service representative (FSR) support for the M-ATV in theater, and that aspect of the contract is valued at more than $31 million. “As we provide M-ATVs, we also ensure they are always battle-ready with support from our factory-trained FSRs, who use their expertise to help sustain vehicles in and out of theater, as well as provide technical guidance and training for troops,” Juergens continued.
The company indicated it will support more than 90 FSRs in theater through March 2012. Oshkosh trains FSRs to provide vehicle-specific expertise, to maintain vehicles and to provide technical guidance and help train troops so militaries can perform more vehicle service.
