Army awards deal for armored buses

WESTON, Fla., Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted Advanced Blast Protection Inc. to produce armored buses for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Florida-based armored specialty vehicle developer ABP was awarded a contract from the Army for the delivery of 24-passenger armored buses. Under the three-year contract, worth more than $10 million, ABP will supply the Army with the armored buses and spare parts to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Company officials say additional specialty armored vehicle requirements are "expected to develop from the Department of Defense, other federal agencies and the Afghanistan and Iraq Security Forces," the release said.

ABP previously has been contracted for its RhinoRunner armored buses that are currently transporting officials from Baghdad's Green Zone to Baghdad International Airport, among other routes.