BAE wins new MRAP test support deal

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SEALY, Texas, March 26 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has won a new $15 million MRAP contract modification from the U.S. Marine Corps.

The contract is to provide test support for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles that have been manufactured for the Marines. It will relate to Caiman MRAP vehicles manufactured by BAE Systems in its plant at Sealy, Texas. The company said the deal also covered financing for instructors, key personnel, new equipment training programs and training support to be given by the company to U.S. Marines serving in theater in Iraq.

"This modification extends our in-theatre support of service training," said Chris Chambers, vice president of Medium/Heavy Vehicles for BAE Systems. "It leverages the commonality Caiman shares with the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, thousands of which are deployed, to deliver efficient and effective fielding of the system."

The contract was awarded by the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia. The work involved will be carried out in Iraq and is scheduled to be finished by December.

BAE Systems said it manufactures three types of MRAP vehicles -- the Caiman, the RG33 and the RG31. The company said that it had received 35 percent of all MRAP orders from the U.S. armed forces so far, worth in all $1.1 billion.