BAE, Navistar team to produce prototypes

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. military has contracted the BAE Systems and Navistar Defense development partnership to participate in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program.

BAE's Ground Systems unit and Navistar Defense were selected to participate in the U.S. military's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program under a deal worth $40.5 million. Officials say BAE and Navistar Defense were one of three teams to take part in the JLTV program's 27-month technology demonstration phase.

As part of the demonstration phase, BAE and Navistar Defense will submit seven of their Valanx v-hulled blast-resistant vehicle prototypes for the U.S. Army's evaluation.

"We have matured our concept through a full year of engineering, prototyping and testing, and incorporated real operational lessons from mine resistant ambush protected vehicles," Raj Rajagopal, BAE Ground Systems Land Armaments president, said in a statement.

"As a result, we believe we have an agile yet highly protected vehicle that is very close to being fielded in the war fight."