Far from the U.S. defense budget battles in Washington, D.C., Humvee-maker AM General unveiled a right-hand drive variant of the vehicle at the Singapore Air Show.
In the United States, the Army is calling for the end of a Humvee Recap Modernized Expanded Capacity Vehicle program to save funds as part of the Defense Department effort to lower the deficit. However, in the overseas contingency operations budget, $271 million would go to modernize 2,128 vehicles returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The company sees possibilities in right-hand drive, including Singapore, where the company is exhibiting at the air show that runs Feb. 14-19.
According to a Shephard Media report, company spokesman Gerritt Beck said there are “some 73 countries that are right-hand drive including Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia and New Zealand.”
Further he said, “India is the big elephant in the room.” AM General is looking for a local partner, but doesn’t have one yet.
Beck said the company is looking not only at right-hand drive militaries, but others who might be interested in such a vehicle, such as fire services.
The redesigned right hand drive vehicle is fully as capable as its left-hand drive counterpart, he said.
Some 58 countries have bought Humvees.
In the United States, AM General is teamed with General Dynamics [GD] as General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) on the Army-Marine Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, completing the technology development phase. The vehicle is to provide increased protection, mobility and be transportable beyond what today’s vehicles such as Humvee can provide in the light tactical wheeled vehicle arena.
General Tactical Vehicles is examining the engineering and manufacturing development phase request for proposals that was issued last month. The fiscal year 2013 budget includes $72 million for the program under research, development, test and evaluation.
At the Singapore Air Show, AM General is one of 70 companies exhibiting at the U.S. Pavilion.