Article Posted on : - May 06, 2010

Navistar's MaxxPro Dash armoured fighting vehicle.

ILLINOIS (BNS): US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command has awarded two separate contracts worth $ 191 million to Navistar Defense for the delivery of new medium tactical vehicles as well as enhancements to International MaxxPro Dash Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) units in Afghanistan.

The current order falls under Navistar’s three-year contract awarded in May 2008 to support the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army. Navistar will thus provide 629 additional medium tactical vehicles for $89 million. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in October 2010, according to the company news release.

“To date, we have more than 14,000 vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan that leverage the same commercial truck platform, but operate as different medium tactical vehicle and MRAP variants,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “This commonality allows us to customize our vehicles for the mission while also accelerating the fleet support provided by our global parts and support network.”

Navistar’s second award is from the US Marine Corps Systems Command for $102 million for MaxxPro Dash MRAP capability insertions. Under the contract, the company will provide a number of vehicle enhancements for the 1,222 Dash units currently in Afghanistan. Installations will begin in August 2010 and would be completed by the end of October 2010.