Navistar Defense on Monday, Oct. 10, unveiled its International Saratoga light tactical vehicle at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Symposium, where Dana Holding Corp. announced that it is enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of U.S. military vehicles through its advanced driveline and mobility technologies.
Navistar says it designed the Saratoga for superior survivability, mobility and transportability to target the gap between the current High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Modernized Expanded Capacity Vehicle (MECV) and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programs. Navistar says the vehicle is ready for production.
“Defense budgets are shifting, and the circumstances demand that industry anticipate what our warfighters need rather than wait for a written requirement,” says Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Finding a gap in the market is what we do in the commercial world, and we are at it again for the sake of our warfighters. The government needs options, and the Saratoga is an affordable solution – available now.”
The Saratoga light tactical vehicle is designed with a high degree of commonality with fielded vehicles and incorporates Navistar’s automotive and manufacturing background. The company also has designed and tested its own proprietary geometry survivability solution for the vehicle. Considering material mix, vehicle structure and hull shape, the Saratoga offers a more survivable solution for the light tactical vehicle class while also meeting 76-inch transportability height, Navistar says.
According to the company, the vehicle meets the most demanding performance needs and has undergone more than 25,000 miles of automotive testing. The Saratoga incorporates the MaxxForce D6.0L V8 engine, automatic engaging limited slip differentials, Allison 2100 SP 6-SP automatic transmission and air independent suspension for added control.
Dana says all tactical wheeled U.S. military vehicles currently used in warfare operations benefit from its Spicer axle, driveshaft or Central Tire Inflation technology, and the Oshkosh M-ATV, Textron ASV, and Navistar MaxxPro vehicles, all of which represent new business awards for Dana, also will benefit from its CTIS and driveshaft systems.
“Dana has a long history developing products used in the military market,” says Mark Wallace, Dana’s president of On-Highway Driveline Technologies. “Our expertise in energy conveyance and mobility make us the ideal partner for military vehicle OEMs wishing to incorporate cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading support into their vehicles.”
Dana will be displaying its axle, driveshaft and CTIS technologies at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center through Wednesday, Oct. 12.
