Oshkosh Defense [OSK] in the past week scored more than $284 million in contracts to recapitalize the Army’s family of heavy utility trucks.
The Army’s Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) placed four separate orders for heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks (HEMTT) palletized load systems (PLS) and self-recovery winches, which make up the service’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV).
Oshkosh is being paid to bring the Army’s FHTV fleet to the latest model-configuration and the same “zero-mile, zero-hour” condition as new production vehicles. The work will be done through October 2018 at the company’s Wisconsin manufacturing facility.
The deals include recapitalization of 670 total vehicles and the production of 356 additional trailers. The process of refurbishing the Army’s heavily used trucks involves shipping them to Wisconsin, stripping them to the frame rails and then rebuilding them from the chassis up as new vehicles.
Recapitalized vehicles are assembled on the same production line as new vehicles, and put through the same extensive performance tests and inspection procedures as new vehicles, Oshkosh said. The vehicles also receive the latest technology and safety upgrades and are delivered with a new bumper-to-bumper warranty.
“As the original equipment manufacturer, our recapitalization services offer significant cost savings by returning vintage vehicles to current operational readiness with the same performance and life cycle cost advantages as a new vehicle,” said Patrick Williams, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager of Army and Marine Corps programs.
A HEMTT, which comes in at least eight variants for a range of logistics missions, is capable of hauling 13 tons. It serves, along with the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), as a workhorse of the Army’s behind-the-lines logistical support fleet. It is the primary puller of the Patriot air defense battery and transports guided missiles.
Oshkosh’s latest configuration, the HEMTT A4, introduces improvements in power, maintenance and safety, traversing even the most challenging environments easier and more efficiently than its predecessors, the company said. The latest configurations of FHTV trucks also include air-conditioned and armor-ready cabs, electrical upgrades, and anti-lock braking.
The PLS supports the Army’s distribution and resupply system by standardizing equipment used to load, unload and deliver ammunition and gear to troops in combat zones. The PLS carries a wide range of cargo, and is specially designed to load and unload a variety of flat rack or ISO compatible containers on its own.
Oshkosh also builds the FMTV, though the Army is shopping potentially for a new manufacturer for the smaller general-purpose truck.