Navistar to provide $880 mil in upgrades for military vehicles

Lisle-based Navistar Defense received a $880 million order from the U.S. Marine Corps System Command to upgrade 2,717 International military vehicles.

The order calls for Navistar's International MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to be upgraded with the company's rolling chassis solution. The award also includes engineering changes, supplies and services.

“As defense budgets are being reduced, it is imperative that we continue to develop economical solutions that repurpose assets  while also working to ensure warfighters have access to emerging technologies and capabilities,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Our rolling chassis solution allows us to leverage our unique vehicle design and replace an older chassis with a new, highly mobile independent suspension chassis. During all this we keep the armored capsule intact while creating commonality through the entire MaxxPro fleet.”

Under the delivery order, MaxxPro vehicles will be retrofitted with new rolling chassis, which will improve the vehicle's off-road capability with the addition of independent suspension, a MaxxForce 9.3 engine, 570 amp alternator and driveline.

The company has fielded nearly 9,000 MaxxPro vehicles and continues to anticipate needed vehicle capabilities and enhancements for its entire fleet of 32,000 vehicles.

“As the operational tempo continues to impact the Army's truck fleet, we will continue to leverage our commercial infrastructure to sustain the fleet through maintenance, repair and rebuild activities,” said Massicotte.

Work will begin at the company's West Point, Miss., assembly facility in January 2012 and is scheduled for completion in October 2013.