Special Operations

USSOCOM raises contract ceiling for GMV 1.1 production

20th August 2020 - 13:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) has received a $48.9 million contract ceiling modification from US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), for production of the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) 1.1.

This modification raises the contract ceiling to $613.85 million and extends the contract by two years, the DoD announced on 19 August.

Work will be performed in Anniston, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by August 2022.

GD-OTS developed the Flyer 72 vehicle with Flyer Defense to meet a USSOCOM requirement for a lightweight all-terrain vehicle that could be transported inside a CH-47/MH-47 helicopter or C-130 tactical transport aircraft.

USSOCOM is interested in exploring several new capabilities for the GMV 1.1 including lightweight armour materials, hybrid/electric powertrains, vehicle weight reduction, C4ISR integration cost reductions and terrain-specific tyres.

The latter was identified as a desirable feature following early GMV 1.1 experiences in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan, where the standard tyres struggled to provide optimum performance on different terrain types.

Shephard Defence Insight understands that USSOCOM has a requirement for as many as 1,300 GMV 1.1 vehicles.

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