By Emelie Rutherford
The Pentagon ordered $752 million worth of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) from International Military and Government (IMG) yesterday, and tapped two other MRAP builders to create test versions of lighter MRAP-like vehicles.
Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), manager of the multi-service MRAP program, ordered an unspecified number of category I MRAPs from IMG, which was recently renamed Navistar Defense, according to a contract announcement last night. The order includes low-rate initial-production vehicles with “engineering change proposal upgrades for enhanced maneuverability and associated non-recurring engineering costs,” it says. The order will also be used to support the procurement of “additional” category I MRAPs for personnel supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, the announcement states.
A total of 822 MRAPs will be delivered by February 2009, according to a company press release. This order likely is the final one for the current, five-company MRAP program launched in late 2006.
The Marine Corps was expected to place its final order for the current MRAP program this month, with an estimated 800 vehicles expected to be arranged for the Army. Pentagon officials had said the final vehicles ordered would be smaller and lighter than those used in theater.
Last night’s contract announcements also cites vehicle orders placed with General Dynamics [GD] and Force Protection Industries [FRPT], each for “five test vehicles with engineering change proposal upgrades for enhanced maneuverability and associated non-recurring engineering costs.” While GD and Force Protection both build MRAPs, the two order summaries do not use the term “MRAP.”
GD’s order is valued at $7.7 million and Force Protection’s is $7.2 million. Work for both orders is expected to be completed no later than Jan. 31, 2009, the announcement states.
A recent Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS) from troops in theater has spurred a potential new mine-resistant vehicle effort (Defense Daily, Aug. 20). The JUONS seeks lighter, more-maneuverable MRAP-like vehicles that are less prone to roll over, MARCORSYSCOM Commander Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan confirmed last month.
Some observers have called this potential new program “MRAP 3.”