Plasan Gets Another Armor Contract For The MRAP-ATV
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, Department of Defense, Events, Israel, Oshkosh Truck Corp, Plasan, Services, logistics, production program
Oshkosh builds the MRAP-ATV for the U.S. military for use in Afghanistan. This is a lighter, more maneuverable Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle then the older designs. They utilize the Israeli company, Plasan, to make armor kits for these vehicles. Because the U.S. has been buying billions of dollars worth of the vehicles Plasan as well has been receiving substantial contracts as well.
The company announced yesterday a further $170 million contract to build 1,460 kits. Plasan has been growing steadily as the world’s demand for armored vehicles, especially those optimized for protection against IED and mines, has also grown. As the U.S. and its allies build out their fleets of vehicles ultimately demand will decline. The MRAP market has already seen some changes as the focus of effort shifted from Iraq to Afghanistan and will again as the U.S. ends its commitment there.
BAE Continues To Build Armor Kits For Military Vehicles
Filed under: BAE Systems, Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Events, Services, U.S. Army, logistics, production program
Yesterday it was announced that BAE Systems won two different contracts to build armor kits for U.S. military vehicles. Due to the IED and mine threat in Iraq and Afghanistan the Army and Marines primarily have been developing extra armor and weapons for their different vehicles to maximize crew protection. BAE’s two contracts support the HIMARS mobile artillery as well as one for MRAP vehicles.
BAE Systems through its acquisition of Armor Holdings a few years ago made it well placed to get into this market. If the U.S. does begin winding down its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan though there will be little demand for further armor kits of these types and that market might dry up.
Armor kits delivered for M-ATV
BENNINGTON, Vt., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- Plasan, a subcontractor of Oshkosh Defense, announced the delivery of 750 armor kits to support the production of MRAP All Terrain Vehicles.
SAIC Wins IED SETA Contract
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Department of Defense, Events, S&T, SAIC, SETA, Services, development program
The United States Department of Defense awarded a Scientific, Engineering, Technical and Analytical (SETA) support contract for the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) to SAIC. The contract is for five years and has a ceiling amount of over $400 million. SETA support will cover all aspects of program management and engineering efforts by the organization.
The IED has proved to be the major threat to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last five years or so inflicting a significant number of casualties. The DoD has set up and run a variety of organizations to coordinate the efforts to defeat them. At one point there was a joint program office and now this organization. All different types of defenses have been looked at and the most visible is the MRAP.
MRAP are passive defenses using armor to defeat the mines and blast weapons. Active defenses have been jammers to prevent the command detonators as well as different detection systems. The U.S. has poured a great deal of money into this effort and this contract reflects that. There is of course no guarantee that all of the contract will be awarded to fill the ceiling.
Safety is not enough for bullet-proof wear
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- It's been called the Armani of armor and the client list includes presidents, politicians, industry leaders and extraordinary folk with fat files in law enforcement agencies.
Plasan awarded armored kits follow-on
BENNINGTON, Vt., Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Plasan has received a follow-on subcontract to deliver additional armor kits for the U.S. Army's mine resistant ambush protected All-Terrain Vehicle.
Marines And Oshkosh Move Out On New Truck
Filed under: Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Events, Oshkosh Truck Corp, Services, U.S. Marine Corps, development program, logistics, production program
The U.S. Marine Corps initiated a new program for Oshkosh Defense to build them a heavy, multi-purpose truck. The Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) program is for a new tactical vehicle to perform a variety of roles.
The U.S. military had to invest heavily in Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) and up armor their older tactical vehicles, like HUMVEES and trucks. This program will take advantage of that experience to develop and produce a new vehicle to carry out a variety of missions for the U.S.M.C. As the MRAP has had issues working in tactical situations this is another program to fix some of these issues. The contract is worth just over $700 million if all options are exercised. Right now the contract is for about 600 vehicles.
Like the MRAP-ATV program where there will be a lighter, more mobile vehicle developed to work the rougher terrain in Afghanistan the concept of this program is sensible. Oshkosh will stand to do well with this product if it works out and other services and countries buy it.
Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Not Happy with FCS Decisions
Filed under: BAE Systems, Boeing, Business Line, Companies, Congress, Department of Defense, Events, Federal Budget Process, Proposal, Restructuring, Services, U.S. Army, development program
In yet another story of Congressional reaction to the decisions by Secretary Gates in next year’s budget. The one recommending cancellation of the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) manned vehicles had the Oklahoma Senators and Representatives expressing strong reservations. The Oklahoman writes that Senator Inhofe who has been a strong supporter of the Non-Line of Sight Cannon (NLOS) system blames President Obama for this plan. The system would be assembled at a BAE plant in Elgin, OK. This is yet another example of how even though the Pentagon may propose cuts or ending programs Congress will have the ability to keep them going through adding funding in the Appropriations bill. Inhofe has always supported the system which was planned to enter into limited production in the near future. The FCS vehicles are planned to be lighter, faster and more fuel efficient then the current suite of heavy, tracked vehicles used by the U.S. Army. They would make up for there lack of armor through speed and reaction time. The FCS envisioned a heavily networked system that would allow greater situational awareness that would help U.S. troops engage faster. This decision by Gates is just one of several that will end up being decided in Congress.
Oshkosh Wins Contract to Up Armor Trucks
Filed under: Contract Awards, Oshkosh Truck Corp, U.S. Army, logistics, production program
The US Army gave Oshkosh a contract to provide up armor kits for heavy trucks. The contract is worth $51 M Business Week reports. Oshkosh manufactures trucks and supply vehicles for the Army. These have slowly grown more armored as part of their basic equipment due to the IED threat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US Army continues CROWS production
Filed under: Contract Awards, Konsberg, Norway, U.S. Army, production program
Kongsberg received further work under the general CROWS contract. The Crew Remotely Operated Weapon System provides a way for soldiers to work sensors and weapons while staying under armor. Kongsberg makes parts of the overall system and this is a continuation of earlier contracts. The overall CROWS contract is worth over $1 B, and this contract has a value of over $200 M.
See The Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch.com for more.
M4 criticism continues
Filed under: Colt, Contract Awards, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, production program
It is not news that the Colt M4 carbine has received a lot of criticism for its performance in Iraq and Afghanistan. This article summarizes a great deal of it. It turns out that the M4, originally a shortened M16 for use by armor and air crew, does not do well in dusty environments. The Special Forces have moved to an HK product, called the SCAR. Many in Congress and the Army have lobbied for a the regular Army and USMC to buy the SCAR as well. The Army did work on a new rifle, the XM-8, that was canceled recently due to problems with the program. Because this is a key piece of equipment for the military expect to see more about this and further efforts to broaden the small arms inventory.
Force Protection, Inc. to Debut Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) Vehicle and Feature Interactive Display of its Survivability Solutions
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News
FDNY Chooses Demron to Improve Safety, Response to All Types of Nuclear, Radiation, Biological, Chemical, Bomb and Ballistic Threats
Filed under: Syndicated Industry News



