thedrifter
10-30-08, 07:42 AM
Article published Oct 30, 2008
AM General team moves to next round
Competing to design, build new tactical vehicles for military.
JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer
The dream team has reached the next round.
General Tactical Vehicle, the joint venture between General Dynamics Land Systems and South Bend-based AM General, was one of three teams selected by the Army and Marines Corps on Wednesday to develop a joint lightweight tactical vehicle (JLTV).
GTV was awarded a $45 million JLTV technology demonstration contract to build and test prototypes of its family of vehicles.
AM General spokesman Craig Mac Nab referred all comments to Karl Oskoian, manager of marketing and communications and public relations for General Dynamics Land Systems.
“We were very confident of the solution that we provided,” Oskoian said in a phone interview Wednesday night. “We believe the GTV team offers customers the optimum combination of survivability, innovation, performance, reliability, supportability and affordability.
“We believe our GTV team and JLTV solutions will provide the Army and U.S. Marine Corps with a family of more survivable vehicles that have greater performance, payload and mobility than what they currently have.”
The Army and Marine Corps also awarded deals to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Armor Holdings; and BAE Systems and Navistar International Corp.
The decision surprised some Wall Street analysts, who had expected Northrop Grumman Corp. and its partner Oshkosh Truck Corp. to be among the winners.
Others not selected were: Boeing Co., SAIC Inc. and Textron Inc.; Force Protection Inc. and DRS Technologies Inc.; and Blackwater USA and Raytheon Co.
Oskoian touted GTV’s “innovative design” and said its “robust lightweight hybrid hull, semi-active suspension system, digital cockpit, and over 95 percent common component across the entire JLTV family of vehicles will meet or exceed” the Army and Marine Corps’ requirements.
Oskoian said work for this 27-month phase will be done in Sterling Heights, Livonia and Muskegon, Mich., and South Bend and continue through Jan. 31, 2011.
This phase is expected to be followed by a 24-month long System, Design and Demonstration Phase that will be awarded to two teams in 2011, Oskoian said.
Current plans call for a low-rate initial product award in 2013, which could ultimately lead to a contract worth well over $20 billion.
Both services want tactical vehicles that can withstand roadside bombs and explosives, but are more agile on mountainous terrain and narrow roads than existing vehicles being used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Ellie
AM General team moves to next round
Competing to design, build new tactical vehicles for military.
JIM MEENAN Tribune Staff Writer
The dream team has reached the next round.
General Tactical Vehicle, the joint venture between General Dynamics Land Systems and South Bend-based AM General, was one of three teams selected by the Army and Marines Corps on Wednesday to develop a joint lightweight tactical vehicle (JLTV).
GTV was awarded a $45 million JLTV technology demonstration contract to build and test prototypes of its family of vehicles.
AM General spokesman Craig Mac Nab referred all comments to Karl Oskoian, manager of marketing and communications and public relations for General Dynamics Land Systems.
“We were very confident of the solution that we provided,” Oskoian said in a phone interview Wednesday night. “We believe the GTV team offers customers the optimum combination of survivability, innovation, performance, reliability, supportability and affordability.
“We believe our GTV team and JLTV solutions will provide the Army and U.S. Marine Corps with a family of more survivable vehicles that have greater performance, payload and mobility than what they currently have.”
The Army and Marine Corps also awarded deals to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Armor Holdings; and BAE Systems and Navistar International Corp.
The decision surprised some Wall Street analysts, who had expected Northrop Grumman Corp. and its partner Oshkosh Truck Corp. to be among the winners.
Others not selected were: Boeing Co., SAIC Inc. and Textron Inc.; Force Protection Inc. and DRS Technologies Inc.; and Blackwater USA and Raytheon Co.
Oskoian touted GTV’s “innovative design” and said its “robust lightweight hybrid hull, semi-active suspension system, digital cockpit, and over 95 percent common component across the entire JLTV family of vehicles will meet or exceed” the Army and Marine Corps’ requirements.
Oskoian said work for this 27-month phase will be done in Sterling Heights, Livonia and Muskegon, Mich., and South Bend and continue through Jan. 31, 2011.
This phase is expected to be followed by a 24-month long System, Design and Demonstration Phase that will be awarded to two teams in 2011, Oskoian said.
Current plans call for a low-rate initial product award in 2013, which could ultimately lead to a contract worth well over $20 billion.
Both services want tactical vehicles that can withstand roadside bombs and explosives, but are more agile on mountainous terrain and narrow roads than existing vehicles being used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Ellie