BAE Systems was awarded a $70 million Army contract to convert 30 M88A1 hulls into M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and provide associated spare parts.
“The HERCULES is a stable, cost efficient vehicle that provides high recovery performance to our soldiers, Marines and allied forces,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Heavy Brigade Combat Team Systems for BAE.
HERCULES is the latest configuration in the M88 family of vehicles and demonstrates the company’s experience and expertise in ensuring the readiness of U.S. military equipment.
Under the contract from Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, vehicle deliveries will begin in November 2012 and continue through March 2013. The work will be performed at the BAE facility in York, Pa.
Key upgrades to M88A2 from the M88A1 HERCULES configuration include improved power-assisted braking, steering, electrical system and increased engine horsepower and additional armor protection, providing soldiers and Marines with 25 percent more towing muscle, 40 percent more lifting strength and 55 percent more winching power in meeting any mission requirement.
HERCULES is able to recover today’s 70-ton combat vehicles including the M1A1, M1A2 and Leopard tanks, bridging systems and other medium weight vehicles and answers the need for cost-effective, self-supporting heavy recovery performance.
This award brings the total value of U.S. government contracts BAE has been awarded on the HERCULES program to $1.3 billion.
To date, 329 HERCULES vehicles have been fielded against an overall Army requirement of 607 vehicles.
A total of 67 vehicles have been fielded to the Marines, which have pure-fleeted to the M88A2 configuration.
An additional 114 vehicles have been fielded to four allied nations: Egypt, Kuwait, Thailand, and Australia.