Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) Program
Program History
By January 2010, US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) had delivered 1,000 M-ATVs into Afghanistan. Working closely with the Joint Program Office (JPO) and Marine Corps Systems Command, TRANSCOM helped determine how many and how fast vehicles would enter the pipeline, complete installation of government furnished equipment and other processing through Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR), and become ready to load. Transportation Command and US Central Command's Deployment Distribution Operations Center remained the primary miracle workers translating all of the potential into reality.
At the same time, TRANSCOM worked with US Central Command on how many vehicles they could accept in theater, command priorities, and required delivery dates. This ensured the efficient and effective movement of these lifesaving trucks into Afghanistan and into the hands of warfighters.
At that time, the M-ATVs were primarily delivered by commercial B747-400s, which could carry at least 5 M-ATVs each. By spring 2010, TRANSCOM anticipated beginning a multi-modal operation, which would include sealift to a location that had both air and seaport facilities, then trans-loading the vehicles onto cargo aircraft for delivery into Afghanistan. Members of the JPO's Joint Logistics Integrator (JLI) team were also on the ground in Manas, Kyrgyzstan, helping move vehicles into theater.
On 21 January 2010, the Oshkosh Corporation announced that its Defense division received four awards valued at more than $89 million from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply parts for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) and Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). Under two delivery orders with the DLA, Oshkosh will supply M-ATV spare parts, including engines, transmissions, transfer cases and alternators. Work under the orders was expected to be completed by October 2010. Work under these orders is expected to be completed by December 2010. Oshkosh was providing the M-ATV's spare parts to the DLA to be used as in-the-field replacements after the original vehicle parts have been consumed. These parts were to ship without delay to maintain optimal readiness rates for existing vehicles in theater. Up to that date, Oshkosh had received awards valued at more than $3.6 billion to deliver 6,619 M-ATVs, as well as spare kits and aftermarket in-theater support.
On 25 January 2010, the Oshkosh Corporation announced its Defense division received two delivery orders valued at more than $325 million from the US Army Tank- automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to supply spare parts and repair kits for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Timing for the delivery orders was expected to begin in August 2010 and to be completed by the end of January 2011. Up to that date, Oshkosh had received awards valued at more than $3.9 billion to deliver 6,619 M-ATVs, as well as spare kits and aftermarket in-theater support.
On 29 January 2010, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation announced that it would be featuring the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) in its European debut at the International Armoured Vehicle Exhibition 2010 in London.
On 8 February 2010, the Oshkosh Corporation announced that its Defense division had received an award valued at more than $84 million from the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to supply more than 625 add-on armor kits for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Under the delivery order, Oshkosh would provide explosively formed penetrator (EFP) protection kits for the M-ATV. Delivery of the kits was expected to begin in April 2010 and be completed by the end of August 2010. The Oshkosh-supplied kits would include EFP armor, base door armor and a door-assist mechanism. Up to that date, Oshkosh had received awards valued at more than $4 billion to deliver 6,619 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits and aftermarket in-theater support. The advanced armor system solution for the base Oshkosh M-ATV, prior to installation of EFP kits, had been battle-tested on more than 5,000 legacy MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) Armored Cabs already in theater. Incorporation of the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4 independent suspension system allowed the M-ATV to accept add-on armor while maintaining its maneuverability and a full payload capacity of up to 4,000 pounds.
On 18 February 2010, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, announced it had received two awards valued at more than $24 million from the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) for MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) kits for the support of communication equipment and electrical system upgrades. The combined undefinitized orders consist of more than 2,090 upgrade kits for the vehicles. The kits would support the installation of Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suites composed of electronic equipment such as communications hardware, jammer systems, tracking technology and driver vision enhancement. The kits would also support the addition of "silent watch" capability, which would allow the M-ATV to operate C4ISR equipment for extended periods of time with reduced noise and heat signatures from the vehicle.
Oshkosh Defense was awarded on 22 February 2010 a $640 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 1,460 M-ATVs and basic issue items. TACOM was the contracting activity.
In March 2010 David Hansen, Principal Deputy Program Manager for the Joint MRAP vehicle program was quoted as saying "The initial feedback we are getting is very positive. It is a much lighter vehicle and it can go places the other MRAPs couldn't go previously. Troops like the power and the size, where it can go and what it can do for them. The vehicles are already saving lives." He added that "Also, troops have said they love the visibility in the vehicle." Overall, the Army was slated receive roughly 6,000 M-ATVs, a number which could increase based on service requirements. In addition, roughly one-half of the Army's M-ATVs are being configured with remote weapons stations which allow soldiers to man guns from a protected position inside the vehicle.
On 8 March 2010, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced it had received three awards valued at more than $35 million from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) upgrades and in-theater support. The company received two awards for more than 6,400 M-ATV Self Protection Adaptive Roller Kits (SPARKS) upgraded interface brackets, as well as an award expanding Oshkosh Defense aftermarket support in-theater that will place 18 additional Oshkosh field service representatives (FSR) in Afghanistan and six in Iraq.
On 10 March 2010, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced it had received an award valued at more than $10 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply more than 1,400 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) kits to support remote weapon systems, which would be controlled from inside the vehicle's crew capsule.
On 29 March 2010, Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation , announced it had received an order valued at more than $41 million from the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply more than 1,000 add-on rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) protection kits for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Timing for the work was expected to be completed by September 2010 and installation would occur in theater. Delivery of the RPG kits was one element of the complete spectrum of service and support Oshkosh Defense provides for the M-ATV fleet in the Afghan theater. The company also deployed in-theater field service representatives (FSR). Oshkosh FSRs operated service facilities at forward operating bases that require additional training or more support than internal assets can provide.
On 14 April 2010, speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee readiness and management support subcommittee, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. General Peter W. Chiarelli said "It will not be too long before we will be able to get everybody who can be out of the up-armored Humvee into the MRAP ATV." The general said the M-ATV offers Soldiers more protection than the up-armored Humvee. Third Army is now in the process of moving equipment such as M-ATVs out of Iraq as part of the drawdown, resetting that equipment, and sending what is needed to Afghanistan. This followed a sizeable reduction in funding for the HMMWV family that was included in a Department of Defense reprogramming request for Fiscal Year 2010 sent Congress in early April 2010.
On 27 April 2010, Oshkosh Defense announced that it had received 2 awards valued at more than $79 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to supply more than 1,750 add-on rocket-propelled grenade protection kits and more than 1,000 kits to support remote weapon systems for the M-ATV. Work for both orders was expected to be completed in September 2010. By that date, Oshkosh had received awards valued at $4.9 billion for some 8,079 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits, upgrade kits and aftermarket support.
Oshkosh Defense announced on 19 May 2010, that it had developed a new sub-variant of the M-ATV vehicle. The tactical ambulance variant offered a new mission profile and expanded medical capabilities while maintaining the those of original M-ATV. The vehicle seated 3 crew members plus 2 litters or 4 ambulatory patients.
On 21 May 2010, Oshkosh Defense announced that it had received 4 delivery orders valued at more than $234.8 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command to supply more than 4,300 M-ATV protection kits. Oshkosh would deliver more than 3,800 rocket-propelled grenade protection kits, as well as more than 500 explosively formed penetrator add-on armor kits and in-field service and parts. Work under the orders was expected to be completed in April 2011.
The MRAP Joint Program Office and Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic hit another program milestone on 28 May 2010, with the integration of the 5,000th M-ATV. The M-ATV project was truly a team effort involving the vehicle manufacturers, the Defense Contracting Management Agency, industry partners, Marine Corps Systems Command, Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, Army 841st Transportation Battalion, Military Sealift Command, Air Force 437th and 315th Airlift Wings, Army Sustainment Logistics Command, Joint Base Charleston, Naval Weapons Station and the Coast Guard.
On 3 June 2010, Oshkosh defense announced that it had been awarded an undefinitized contract valued at more than $67 million to incorporate configuration changes to more than 420 M-ATVs for the US Special Operations Command. The configuration changes for the M-ATV SOCOM variant were to be cut in on Oshkosh manufacturing lines in August 2010 and the vehicles were scheduled to be delivered between September and November 2010.
In October 2010, it was announced that the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) 19 batch of M-ATVs would include an ambulance configuration. Oshkosh defense developed the configuration in cooperation with the US Army Medical Department, recieving an order for 250 vehicles in December 2010.
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