Navistar Defense to supply MRAP upgrade kits to US Army

Navistar Defense will supply more than 2,300 survivability upgrade retrofit kits for the US Army’s International MaxxPro Dash Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles under a new delivery order announced on 18 September. The order, worth up to $282 million, was placed by the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to upgrade MaxxPro Dash vehicles in theatre with additional protection in response to evolving threats in Afghanistan.

The MaxxPro family of vehicles was originally designed to accommodate rapid vehicle enhancements as threats evolved in theatre. Since 2007, the company has provided enhancements to both survivability and mobility through its work on its rolling chassis body swap, DXM independent suspension retrofit kits, armour kits and more.

The upgrade kits reflect the changing nature of threats in theatre, and Navistar Defense aims to ‘stay out ahead of those threats with the best technology available’.

Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense, said: ‘We will keep offering integrated solutions as well as alternatives to buying new vehicles so that we can keep our Armed Forces modern and ready for future operations’.

Navistar has delivered nearly 9,000 MaxxPro units in nine major variants to the US and its allies. This order follows the company's MaxxPro rolling chassis body swap, which upgrades more than 2,700 MaxxPro vehicles with a DXM independent suspension, MaxxForce 9.3 engine, 570 amp alternator and driveline.

The order also includes parts and service, and is scheduled for completion by July 2013. Work will commence in Afghanistan in December 2012.