Iveco Defence Vehicles supplies military trucks to the French armed forces

Iveco Defence Vehicles with the French company Soframe - a subsidiary of the Alsatian Lohr Group - has been awarded a contract to supply multi-purpose military vehicles to the French armed forces. The tender invitation was issued in 2007 by the Division of General Armaments (DGA), a part of the French Ministry of Defence.

The contract includes an initial supply of 200 vehicles worth around €160 million. This is part of a supply contract with optional subsequent releases of up to 2400 further units for a total of around €800 million.

The 8x8 special high-mobility vehicles intended for the French army offer exceptional performances off-road and fording capability to provide tactical support to any military operation in the most hostile environmental conditions.

Supplied with a partially armoured driver's cab, various types of demountable hook-lift body work, trailer towing and cranes for the recovery of military vehicles, ensures maximum crew protection with excellent operational flexibility and carrying capacity.

The delivery will include maintenance and supply of spare parts.

The body and chassis equipment will be manufactured and assembled in France by Soframe, part of the Alsation Lohr Group. The contract, the result of the tender issued by the DGA in 2007 resulting in the selection of Iveco and Soframe, whose bid was rated as the best in technical and economic terms, represents the most complex and wide ranging contract in Europe in this sector in 2010 and among the largest awarded by the DGA.

With this important supply contract, Iveco, together with its partners of excellence, is consolidating its European market leadership in the military sector, to which it has always offered innovative solutions both for the vehicle and its advanced technologies applied to the specific military components, such as driver's cab protection and service and maintenance provisions, essential for vehicles supplied to this important sector, responding fully to the needs and requirements of the French armed forces.

Iveco's Sales & Marketing Director, Flavio Marchesoni, stated: "We are proud of this contract which acknowledges our commitment, together with our French partners and suppliers, to providing the French DGA with the latest technology."

Source: Iveco

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