As the U.S. military moves forward with industry proposals for the next generation of lighter, more mobile Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, Navistar Defense recently was awarded 400 additional MaxxPro Dash units designed for urgent operations in Afghanistan.
Navistar says it will complete delivery of all 400 units while the testing and evaluation of vehicles for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program is under way; the U.S. military announced its M-ATV program in November. The company says it also will deliver a previous September award of 822 MaxxPro Dash vehicles a full month ahead of schedule at the end of January; work on the additional 400 units is to be completed by the end of May.
“The M-ATV is an exciting evolution of the military’s MRAP vehicle program — an off-road, lighter and more maneuverable vehicle with MRAP-level protection,” says Archie Massicotte, president of Navistar Defense, based in Warrenville, Ill. “From the advent of MRAP vehicle program to today, Navistar continues to leverage our manufacturing and engineering expertise to quickly adapt our MRAP vehicle for the evolving threats in theater. It’s our core strength.”
The contract for 400 MaxxPro Dash units is valued at $362 million. Production of the units will begin at the company’s West Point, Miss., plant in late January, shortly after the company completes delivery of the original 822 units.
The company also will support the renewal of field service representatives in Iraq and Afghanistan with a $53.6 million contract award from the U.S. Marines. The award also will be used to provide parts, engineering enhancements and FSR publications needed for MaxxPro vehicles in theater.
