U.K. Defence Secretary John Hutton Nov. 19 announced preferred bidders Navistar Defense, Force Protection Industries [FRPT] and Supacat for the army’s approximately $517 million armored support trucks.
Force Protection will supply the Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV)(heavy), based on the Cougar 6×6 flatbed. U.K. specific equipment such as communications systems and protection measures will be integrated into the vehicle. NP Aerospace will be involved with the integration work.
Navistar Defense will supply the Husky TSV (medium). It will conduct support activities where heavy vehicles cannot be used. The Husky will come in three variants: utility, ambulance and command post. Navistar has formally entered into contract negotiations to provide 260 TSV Husky units based off its Internationalr MXT(tm) platform to meet an urgent need, the company said.
Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense, said: “Providing the International MXT for the TSV program is another example of how Navistar Defense is not only supporting the U.S. military, but NATO allies.”
Supacat Ltd., will supply the Coyote TSV (light) based on a 6×6 derivative of the company’s Jackal, and will support the high mobility Jackals in Afghanistan.
“Our new breeds, Wolfhound, Husky and Coyote will give the troops in Afghanistan the additional bite they need in the fight against the enemy,” Hutton said. “They do a formidable job and deserve nothing but the best. I look forward to the vehicles being on contract and arriving in the new-year.”
The TSV announcement comes on the heels of the Oct. 29 $1 billion-plus package of 700 additional vehicles announced to greatly improve troop protection. Of that, some $500 million was designated for 400 TSVarmored support trucks. The new trucks will accompany existing patrols carrying essential supplies such as water and ammunition. The medium- armored support truck Husky will form the main bulk of this purchase.
TSV contracts are expected to be in place early next year.