Marines tap Oshkosh for power kits

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OSHKOSH, Wis., July 23 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command has tapped Oshkosh Defense to supply on-board vehicle power kits for military testing, the company announced.

The OBVP kits leverage the company's ProPulse diesel-electric drive technology, which can power a small airport or entire city block from a single military vehicle.

"There is a rapidly growing demand in the military for on-board power to support mobile radar systems, command centers, IED-defeat systems and many other applications," said John Bryant, vice president and general manager of Marine Corps Programs for Oshkosh Defense. "We are proud to partner with the Navy and Marine Corps to create a technology platform to provide our troops with increased tactical flexibility, while reducing their logistics footprint."

The OBVP kits will be installed on all-terrain Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement standard- and extended-cargo trucks for evaluation and testing.

The MTVR with OBVP will provide 120 kW of exportable military-grade power while stationary and 21 kW of military-grade power while on the move, Oshkosh said.

The contract is valued at more than $8 million.

Installation, during vehicle production or as add-ons, is expected to be completed in January 2012, with evaluation and testing to begin soon after.