WARRENVILLE, Ill., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps announced it has contracted Navistar International Corp. in what is the largest order to date of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.
Under the nearly $1.2 billion deal Navistar affiliate International Military and Government LLC will supply the Marine Corps with 1,500 additional MRAP vehicles.
The Marine Corps' new order increases its Category I MRAP vehicle orders to 4,471 from Navistar for the company's MaxxPro MRAP vehicles expected to be delivered by the end of July 2008.
"Navistar's global scale and array of truck products offers the U.S. military and our allies' unique advantages from design and manufacturing to parts and support services," Archie Massicotte, International Military and Government president, said in a statement. "We know we're doing our part to help protect the troops with the MaxxPro MRAP vehicle, and it's a privilege."
Company officials say with the order Navistar has taken 50 percent of the MRAP vehicle market with orders totaling nearly $3 billion.
"All Navistar support solutions are available to sustain these vehicles at home and abroad," Massicotte said. "Monthly production of MaxxPro MRAP vehicles continues to increase; we will be at 500 units per month by February."
