BAE Systems said it received a $16 million contract to manufacture additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicles for the Army incorporating technologies to increase protection for soldiers from artillery attack.
Under the $16.3 million contract award from Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, BAE will produce 44 HIMARS vehicles and appliqué kits and provide program support.
This contract follows a $24 million June 2010 award for 63 HIMARS vehicles and appliqué kits.
The vehicles will be equipped with BAE’s Increased Crew Protection (ICP) cab, derived from a BAE patented design, which provides reliable protection for crews. A unique design by BAE, the HIMARS ICP armored cab incorporates more than 40 enhancements from previous cab designs. The ICP is designed to provide increased crew protection from ballistic attacks, mine blasts, foreign object debris and toxic fumes associated with rocket launches. The cabs feature improved crew survivability, hatch and door ergonomics, cab entry and exit, pressurization and water entry sealing. Composite materials will be used to meet mission success requirements.
“With our specialized ability to support the growing HIMARS fleet with greater mobility and survivability, BAE Systems continues to demonstrate a commitment to consistently provide our warfighters with enhanced protection on the most reliable medium tactical vehicles at the best value,” said Chris Chambers, line lead for BAE.
The vehicles with ICP cabs will be produced in Sealy, Texas and delivered to the Army by December 2011.
The HIMARS vehicles are built on a Family of Medium Tactical Truck chassis, but the variant was not included in the FMTV rebuy competition that was ultimately won by Oshkosh Corp. [OSK]. Additionally, the rebuy did not include the LVAD cargo trucks and two special Patriot Variants.