Employees of Red River Army Depot (RRAD) and its partner BAE Systems began work Oct. 27 resetting the first of 200 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).
On Sept. 26, BAE was awarded the $20.5 million contract that includes second and third year options to reset an additional 400 FMTVs, if both options are exercised. The dollar amount of option year contracts has not been determined. Resetting the 200 FMTVs is to be completed by September 2009.
“We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with BAE on the reset of FMTV trucks, RRAD Deputy Commander Paul Addington said. “This arrangement supports the depot strategy of partnering with original equipment manufacturers to provide the best value and best quality to the warfighter. Red River has developed an efficient overhaul process that is supported by BAE’s efficient supply chain management. Working together we are better equipped to produce quality trucks, on time and at a reasonable cost.”
The government sends FMTVs to reset when they are found to be “economical to repair, overhaul or recondition.” When the resets are completed, the FMTVs are returned to the government in “like new” condition at about half the cost of purchasing newerFMTVs.
Gary Schindler, the BAE program manager for the FMTV reset program, said: “The FMTVs are not operational or repairable at the unit level when they come in. The amount of work that goes into reconditioning a vehicle varies. Certain parts are considered mandatory replacement parts and must be replaced on every vehicle. Other parts are inspected and replaced if they cannot be reused or repaired.”
Five employees from BAE’s Product Support division will provide program and logistics management from a facility in New Boston, Texas, near RRAD. RRAD will provide employees to disassemble and reassemble the vehicles, and refurbish the chassis. The FMTV cabs are shipped to Sealy, Texas, to be rebuilt and reconditioned by BAE employees before being returned to RRAD for reassembly on the chassis.
“We have been working with the government to reuse older cabs provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) to support the FMTV reset program,” Schindler said. “New replacement cabs for the older model vehicles are no longer readily available. The alternative is to reactivate the production of older model cabs, which is expensive and time consuming, or to utilize used cabs that are being provided by the Government. Reusing the GFE cabs is a big cost savings for the customer.”
Along with refurbished cabs, the FMTVs receive reconditioned engines, transmissions and axles. Any other damage to the frame, suspension and body is also repaired and equipment replaced so the vehicle can be returned to the U.S. Government “like new.”
BAE’s Mobility and Protection Systems (M&PS) produces the FMTV in Sealy. The FMTV is the Army’s main medium tactical in the Army’s 2.5- and 5-ton cargo vehicle class. More than 40,000 FMTVs have been produced in 21 variants during the vehicles 17-year production run.