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General Dynamics Delivers First MRAPs, Contracts Continue To Flow
Jul 02, 2007 (Defense Daily/Access Intelligence via COMTEX) -- General Dynamics
[GD] delivered its first Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to the
Marine Corps less than 120 days after the company received its first production
order for the new product, the company reported.
Two General Dynamics assembly operations are being created in Alabama for the
combined production with Force Protection Inc. [FRPT] of 1,125 vehicles for the
Marine Corps' MRAP program. Force Protection and General Dynamics have formed a
joint venture, Force Dynamics LLC, to share in the production and program
management of MRAP contracts. The Alabama sites will build more than 350 of
Force Protection's Category I 4x4 and Category II 6x6 Cougar vehicles by January
2008, according to General Dynamics.
"This milestone demonstrates our commitment to rapidly provide the Marine Corps
with the protected vehicles essential for combat operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan," Rick Gillette, senior vice president of production, delivery and
support for General Dynamics Land Systems, said in a statement.
Last week, the Navy awarded BAE SYSTEMS a $213.9 million delivery order for 425
Category I and 16 Category II MRAP vehicles, the company reported. It was the
second MRAP order given to BAE. In February, the company received a $55.4
million contract for 90 MRAP vehicles (Defense Daily, Feb. 26).
"The highly survivable RG33 4x4 provides an enhanced degree of mission
flexibility," Raj Rajagopal, president for BAE Ground Systems, said in a
statement. "The RG33 series offers both improved survivability and more volume
under armor than any other mine protected vehicle and incorporates the latest
designs in protecting against improvised explosive devices."
The contract also includes 16 Category II MRAP 6x6 vehicles configured as
ambulances and an additional variant, the company said. The RG33L MRAP ambulance
vehicle can accommodate several litter and ambulatory patients via a novel
litter lift system. The vehicle also provides space for a medic work station and
key medical equipment, according to BAE.
"This highly mobile and survivable vehicle will allow Marines and soldiers to
receive immediate medical care in a combat environment and we are pleased that
the RG33L was chosen for this critical mission role." Matt Riddle, Wheeled
Vehicle Programs vice president for BAE, according to the statement.
Production will be performed at BAE's York, Pa., and Aiken, S. C., facilities
and major partner facilities in Lansing and Charlotte, Mich.
The Navy has repeatedly stated it anticipated awarding a number of MRAP
contracts in June. Besides BAE's award, on June 19, the Navy awarded Force
Protection Industries, Inc. a $221.6 million firm-fixed-priced delivery order
for an additional 395 Category I and 60 Category II.
Force Protection Industries Inc. was the first company to successfully complete
the testing program. In April, the Navy awarded them a $481.4 million contract
for 1,000 vehicles (Defense Daily, June 1).
In January, the Marine Corps awarded test vehicle contracts to nine companies
for the MRAP vehicle program.
Since then, the Navy has awarded International Military and Government LLC (IMG)
a $623 million contract for 1,200 MRAP. In addition, Force Dynamics, received a
$67.4 million contract award to produce 125 vehicles for its MRAP (Defense
Daily, Feb. 15);
In February, General Dynamics was awarded $11 million for 10 Category I and 10
Category II MRAP vehicles; Oshkosh Truck Corp. [OSK] received $30.6 million for
100 Category I MRAP vehicles; and Protected Vehicles, Inc. (PVI) received $37.4
million for 60 Category II MRAP vehicles (Defense Daily, Feb. 26).
The current Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) approved number for MRAP
is 7,774. However, the Army is supposed to come back and provide a plan for
17,700 vehicles, if that is in fact their ultimate requirement, (Defense Daily,
June 11).
Defense Daily, Vol. 235, No. 1
By Geoff Fein
Copyright 2007 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.
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