thedrifter
02-24-07, 08:51 AM
Corps gets 4 Lightweight Prime Movers
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 23, 2007 22:40:04 EST
The Marine Corps has received four Lightweight Prime Mover vehicles to field as towing vehicles for M777 155mm artillery howitzers, even though the program may not have much life left.
The LM4x4 truck — intended to be the main means of moving the howitzers — weighs less than 10,000 pounds but can “easily tow” the 10,000-pound artillery piece, manufacturer Lockheed Martin said in a statement announcing the delivery. It is transportable in the belly of a C-130 Hercules or suspended beneath a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter or the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
“The Lightweight Prime Mover combines a proven design with innovative systems solutions to dramatically increase mobility, towing capability and payload,” said Louis DeSantis, vice president and general manager of systems solutions at Lockheed Martin.
The Corps has options for 120 of the vehicles, but future buys are uncertain.
“No formal decisions have been made on the Lightweight Prime Mover program at this time,” said Capt. Jeff Landis, a Marine Corps Systems Command spokesman. “We currently have other priority programs that we’re focusing on right now, like the [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle].
Ellie
By Kimberly Johnson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 23, 2007 22:40:04 EST
The Marine Corps has received four Lightweight Prime Mover vehicles to field as towing vehicles for M777 155mm artillery howitzers, even though the program may not have much life left.
The LM4x4 truck — intended to be the main means of moving the howitzers — weighs less than 10,000 pounds but can “easily tow” the 10,000-pound artillery piece, manufacturer Lockheed Martin said in a statement announcing the delivery. It is transportable in the belly of a C-130 Hercules or suspended beneath a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter or the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
“The Lightweight Prime Mover combines a proven design with innovative systems solutions to dramatically increase mobility, towing capability and payload,” said Louis DeSantis, vice president and general manager of systems solutions at Lockheed Martin.
The Corps has options for 120 of the vehicles, but future buys are uncertain.
“No formal decisions have been made on the Lightweight Prime Mover program at this time,” said Capt. Jeff Landis, a Marine Corps Systems Command spokesman. “We currently have other priority programs that we’re focusing on right now, like the [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle].
Ellie