Military orders more MaxxPro Dash MRAPs

WARRENVILLE, Ill., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department has awarded Navistar Defense a follow-on contract for the company to supply additional mine resistant ambush protected vehicles.

The Defense Department ordered an additional 400 of Navistar Defense's MaxxPro Dash MRAP vehicles to support operations in Afghanistan. Officials say the $362 million contract is part of the U.S. military's MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle program announced in November.

"The M-ATV is an exciting evolution of the military's MRAP vehicle program: an off-road, lighter and more maneuverable vehicle with MRAP-level protection," Archie Massicotte, Navistar Defense president, said in a statement.

"From the advent of MRAP vehicle program to today, Navistar continues to leverage our manufacturing and engineering expertise to quickly adapt our MRAP vehicle for the evolving threats in theater; it's our core strength."

Navistar Defense officials say the new order of 400 MaxxPro Dash vehicles is expected to be completed before June.