More MSFV for Afghanistan National Army ordered

Textron Marine & Land Systems has announced that it has received a third option award from the US Army Contracting Command for 71 Mobile Strike Force Vehicles (MSFV) for the Afghanistan National Army (ANA). The order has been added to the current contract and has a not-to-exceed value of $79,182,680, according to a 13 June 2012 company statement.

The original order was issued in 2011 for 240 vehicles, three variants of which are being produced: MSFV with enclosed turret; MSFV with objective gunner protection kit; and an MSFV ambulance, with vehicle deliveries scheduled through October 2013. The total number of vehicles ordered to date is now nearing 500.

Derived from the combat-proven M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), all MSFVs are configured with Enhanced Survivability (ES) capability, which improves blast protection to mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) levels. The ES-equipped vehicles continue to possess the ASV’s original, all-important V-shaped hull design, in addition to innovative protection design features that enable them to meet MRAP blast protection standards.

The company also announced on 27 June 2012 that it has been issued a contract modification to continue providing training and logistics support in Afghanistan. Under the contract, Textron Marine & Land Systems will support the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) MSFV armoured vehicle programme. This option includes funding for vehicle deprocessing field service representatives, instructors, interpreters and in-theatre management, and other direct costs for an additional one-year period.