By Ann Roosevelt
The Army July 7 awarded General Dynamics [GD] a $30 million firm-fixed-price contract to cut into production the revised Stryker performance specifications incorporating a modified hull design for 281 vehicles.
Preliminary testing of the new hull has proven that the design increases the level of protection and survivability provided to soldiers, the company said in a statement yesterday.
The double-V hull (DVH) is to provide improved protection levels to support Afghanistan operations.
Gordon Stein, senior director for the General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker program, said, “soldiers and Marines attending our Warfighter’s forum earlier this year said their Stryker vehicles have performed superbly in Iraq and Afghanistan because of their speed, agility, stability and off-road capability. The double-V hull can easily be integrated into all variants of the Stryker.”
The day before the contract was awarded, the office of the under secretary of defense acquisition, technology and logistics authorized the Army an additional early order procurement of $99.9 million for 330 vehicles.
The DoD memo stated the Stryker DVH would provide better protection to the driver and crew than vehicles already deployed in Afghanistan.
The live fire and operation test plan contains two phases, first, testing to support a Defense Acquisition Executive decision to continue production of the DVH vehicles. Phase II testing would characterize the protection to the crew and other aspects of vehicle operational effectiveness and suitability.
“To expedite support for forces deploying next summer, the Army will pre-position Stryker DVH vehicles in theater as soon as possible after production so they are available upon unit arrival in Afghanistan,” the Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) stated.
To maximize the number of DVH vehicles available for the deployed unit, concurrent production and testing is being done.
The ADM specifically noted “there is financial risk associated with this acquisition strategy.” This comes because testing may not demonstrate that the DVH provides better protection to the crew than existing vehicles.
In early April, DoD chief acquisition officer Ashton Carter authorized $51 million for early order procurement for early order procurement for an initial 120 vehicles. The April 6 ADM also gave the Army “authority to begin production consistent with the projected production schedule of Stryker DVH vehicles.”
Part of the $51 million–$4.6 million–was slated for certain protections in kit form that address the 5/2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team concerns that were validated in December 2009.
The April ADM authorized the service to use up to $191.7 million to modify the hull design of some Stryker vehicles currently in production to the double V hull design.
The July ADM continues the April direction to hold a Configuration Steering Board to review and assess the test data and survivability enhancements.
“Pending a review of the findings from the Configuration Steering Board, I will consider authorizing, upon Congressional approval, a subprogram for the production and limited fielding of modified Stryker vehicles to support urgent operational needs in Afghanistan,” Carter’s ADM said.
Deliveries will begin in January 2011 to allow infantry carrier vehicles to be ready for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team that will rotate into Afghanistan next year, and be completed by February 2012.
The DVH work will be done in London, Ontario, Canada and production will be completed at Anniston Ala.