thedrifter
02-07-07, 06:03 AM
Pentagon stalls General Dynamics vehicle: report
Reuters via Yahoo! News
Wed Feb 7, 2:50 AM ET
The Pentagon is scrapping plans to begin building a costly amphibious vehicle for the Marines because the system developed by General Dynamics Corp is plagued with problems, The Washington Post said on Wednesday.
After 10 years and a $1.7 billion investment, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle breaks down too often, leaks and sometimes veers off course, the newspaper said, citing military officials and government reports.
The Pentagon had planned to begin building the first of 1,000 of the vehicles which can be launched from a ship and then driven on land.
But officials now want Falls Church, Virginia-based General Dynamics to start over with seven new prototypes, which will take nearly two years to deliver, at a cost of $22 million each, the Post said.
General Dynamics, the fourth-biggest U.S. defense contractor, defended its progress with the program.
"We are obviously aware of the Marine Corps' concerns and are working with the Marines to improve the reliability of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle in advance of proceeding into production with the vehicle," spokesman Rob Doolittle told Reuters when asked about the report.
He said General Dynamics had already proven the key goals of the vehicle, including the ability to move at high speed across water, carry 17 Marines and keep pace with an Abrams tank on land.
"All of those things have been proven through testing with the Marine Corps and now we are working to improve the reliability of the vehicle in delivering each of the capabilities," Doolittle said.
The Washington Post said the Marine Corps would present a plan to salvage the program to Pentagon leaders in March.
The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle was launched in 1996 and is one of the Pentagon's largest weapons programs, the newspaper said.
Ellie
Reuters via Yahoo! News
Wed Feb 7, 2:50 AM ET
The Pentagon is scrapping plans to begin building a costly amphibious vehicle for the Marines because the system developed by General Dynamics Corp is plagued with problems, The Washington Post said on Wednesday.
After 10 years and a $1.7 billion investment, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle breaks down too often, leaks and sometimes veers off course, the newspaper said, citing military officials and government reports.
The Pentagon had planned to begin building the first of 1,000 of the vehicles which can be launched from a ship and then driven on land.
But officials now want Falls Church, Virginia-based General Dynamics to start over with seven new prototypes, which will take nearly two years to deliver, at a cost of $22 million each, the Post said.
General Dynamics, the fourth-biggest U.S. defense contractor, defended its progress with the program.
"We are obviously aware of the Marine Corps' concerns and are working with the Marines to improve the reliability of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle in advance of proceeding into production with the vehicle," spokesman Rob Doolittle told Reuters when asked about the report.
He said General Dynamics had already proven the key goals of the vehicle, including the ability to move at high speed across water, carry 17 Marines and keep pace with an Abrams tank on land.
"All of those things have been proven through testing with the Marine Corps and now we are working to improve the reliability of the vehicle in delivering each of the capabilities," Doolittle said.
The Washington Post said the Marine Corps would present a plan to salvage the program to Pentagon leaders in March.
The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle was launched in 1996 and is one of the Pentagon's largest weapons programs, the newspaper said.
Ellie