Textron Systems Awarded Contract for Production of Additional Armored Security Vehicles

BUSINESS WIRE ^ | June 24, 2004

[Cannoneer No. 4]

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2004--Textron Marine & Land, an operating unit of Textron Systems, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command to manufacture additional Armored Security Vehicles (ASVs).

The contract, valued up to $20 million, is for the production of an additional 28 ASVs and associated technical support and engineering services. This current buy is slated for the U.S. Army's Military Police Battalions that are already successfully operating 63 ASVs in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

B. Clay Moise, Vice President of Marine and Combat Vehicles for Textron Marine & Land, stated, "The ASV has been a critical asset -- saving soldiers' lives on a daily basis. We have received numerous thank you letters from soldiers who have survived enemy attack and have come out of the incidents unharmed. It's a rewarding and humbling experience to be part of manufacturing such a powerful lifesaving tool."

The current sole source contract award comes as a modification to an existing contract and brings the total number of production vehicles awarded to Textron to 132. Under the initial contract for production, one vehicle had been produced every three weeks. Because this newest award is based on a request from the military commander in Iraq in the form of an "Urgent Request for Fielding," production will be accelerated to one vehicle per week. The company has the current capacity to produce up to 32 vehicles per month. All work will be completed at Textron's facility in New Orleans and will begin immediately.

About the ASV

The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle that offers exceptional crew protection through the employment of multiple layers of armor that provides defense against medium caliber armor-piercing machine gun fire, large artillery projectile fragments, and land mines. This advanced armor is exceedingly lightweight and allows the vehicle to be able to "roll-on/roll-off" C-130 military transport aircraft. The ASV possesses superior mobility, agility, handling, and ride quality through the utilization of a new all-wheel independent suspension. Textron Cadillac Gage has equipped the U.S. Army Military Police version with a specially designed dual-weapon station that, unlike many other vehicles, enables all ammunition reload to be performed under armor and allows the crew to remain protected from enemy fire.

Since the introduction of the ASV, Textron Systems has received numerous inquiries from other U.S. Army branches and units, as well as many NATO countries. In response to this demand, Textron has performed studies to determine the ASV's suitability for a variety of missions. With minor modifications and appropriate outfitting, ASV possibilities include operation as a scout vehicle, a personnel carrier, a reconnaissance vehicle and a medical evacuation unit, among others uses. Textron's family of Cadillac Gage brand vehicles can be outfitted with a variety of armament stations, turrets and other equipment.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The U.S. Army's M1117 ASV leads the pack in protecting convoy support vehicles during Operation Iraqi Freedom

[Cannoneer No. 4]

MPs like new heavily armored vehicle made in New Orleans

[Cannoneer No. 4]

M1117 Armored Security Vehicle

[Southack]

Reloading while still under armor is good, but can the 117 shrug off RPG hits?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

So far, according to Johnson, the ASVs in Iraq are performing well. Two have been attacked by rocket-propelled grenades, one of which was deflected while the other exploded but did not penetrate the hull, he said. The vehicle hull is angled in different directions to help avoid a direct hit but the armor is not designed to withstand a blow from an RPG.

[glaseatr]

Damn, that thing is almost pretty...LOL

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Looks like it needs a forklift or a bucket on the front.

But if it helps do the job , great!