Navistar Defense wins MRAP work

Navistar Defense has announced that it has been issued with an award to conduct the installation work associated with its January order to upgrade 2,717 International MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles with a new vehicle chassis. Issued by the US Army Contracting Command, the $21 million contract was announced 15 March 2012.

Navistar said they are focused on increasing the capabilities of the existing fleet with minimal impact to defence funding with the work. This will involve developing new solutions to fully utilise existing assets.

Should the government be interested in reusing its remaining vehicle chassis, Navistar can add an armoured cab to the chassis or return the vehicle to a commercial flatbed truck by adding a standard commercial cab for roughly a third of the cost of a new vehicle. Additional variants that can be produced on this building-block model include a recovery vehicle and a utility truck with an integrated capability for exportable power generation.

The company has fielded nearly 9,000 MaxxPro vehicles and continues to anticipate needed vehicle capabilities, enhancements, reset and reuse options for its entire fleet of 32,000 vehicles.

The retrofits will be conducted in West Point, Miss., and work is expected to be completed by the end of May 2012.