Army makes initial M-ATV selections

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has selected five all-terrain, mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles for evaluation ahead of a potential deployment to Afghanistan.

The Army recently solicited the defense-contractor community to develop a new MRAP vehicle that is lightweight and more mobile to meet the challenging terrain conditions in Afghanistan. Army officials announced the selection of BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, Navistar Defense and Force Dynamics to deliver MRAP all-terrain vehicle submissions for evaluation.

British company BAE said its Global Tactical Systems and U.S. Combat Systems business units will both deliver M-ATV variants; Force Dynamics, a joint venture between Force Protection Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems, will deliver its Cheetah M-ATV in response to the selection; Navistar Defense was selected to deliver its M-ATV variant; and Oshkosh will deliver its M-ATV test unit integrated with the company's widely deployed TAK-4 independent-suspension system to the Army.

"The vehicles we delivered today meet the urgent need requirement for a well-armored vehicle that excels in moving our soldiers and Marines forward in Afghanistan's harsh environments and dangerous operations," Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corp. executive vice president, said in a statement.