More Textron armored vehicles for Afghans

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NEW ORLEANS, March 11 (UPI) -- Textron Marine and Land Systems is producing additional Mobile Strike Force Vehicles for the Afghan army under a U.S. FMS deal.

The Foreign Military Sales contract -- from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich. -- is for 135 vehicles. It is a firm-fixed-price arrangement worth $113.4 million.

Delivery of the vehicles to the ANA will continue through next year, the company said.

Textron Marine and Land Systems received an initial contract for 499 MSFVs in 2011. More than 300 have been delivered with Afghan army battalions, called kandaks, and are being used for in-country vehicle logistics support and training.

"Several kandaks are fully trained and beginning to stand up Afghanistan's quick reaction force capability," said Tom Walmsley, TM&LS senior vice president and general manager. "These vehicles deliver a combination of lethality, survivability, mobility and sustainability crucial to the army's ability to effectively respond to security threats and maintain the peace."

The MSFV is a 4x4 armored vehicle. It comes in three variants, including armored personnel carrier.