Army awards follow-on deal for FMTVs

SEALY, Texas, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has contracted BAE Systems for 10,000 more of the company's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles and trailers.

British company BAE was awarded a follow-on contract from the Army worth $1.6 billion. Under the deal, BAE will produce an additional 10,000 of its Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. The announced deal follows a previous FMTV contract BAE was awarded from the Army in early 2008 for $2.1 billion

BAE officials say the latest FMTV contract will include cargo trucks, wreckers, tractors and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System support vehicles, among other variants. BAE's FMTV vehicles are capable of sharing parts, including engines and transmissions, which reduces overall maintenance costs.

"This award will boost FMTV production to record rates," Chris Chambers, BAE Systems vice president of medium/heavy vehicles in Sealy, Texas, said in a statement.

"It introduces the advanced Long Term Armor Strategy FMTV configuration at high numbers, rapidly equipping the U.S. Army with the very latest adaptive protection technology."