Illinois-based Navistar Defense says its Mississippi manufacturing facility is expected to reach full production levels for its International MaxxPro Dash MRAP variant in the middle of October.

Navistar Defense is under contract with the U.S. military to produce 822 of the Dash MRAPs. Officials say the Dash offers soldiers a smaller and more mobile variant of the company's other MaxxPro armored vehicles deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect troops from improvised explosive devices and other explosive threats.

"Navistar is dedicated to the overall sustainability of its defense business," Archie Massicotte, Navistar Defense president, said in a statement.

"In addition to our ongoing U.S. military contracts and our efforts to compete for the upcoming Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, Navistar Defense is actively pursuing new business with multiple U.S. allies."