Wisconsin-based Oshkosh announced it has submitted a proposal to the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command in an effort to be selected for future MRAP All Terrain Vehicle contract awards. Oshkosh says its proposal for the M-ATV program was based on its Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement chassis.

TACOM has called on defense contractors to develop a highly maneuverable and durable alternative to the current MRAP standard widely deployed in Iraq to meet the difficult terrain of Afghanistan's combat theater.

Oshkosh says its M-ATV vehicle is combat-proven and has successfully met the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program requirements.

"The Oshkosh Defense M-ATV is a variant of our armored Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, a proven vehicle that has protected and served our military men and women in off-road operations for years," John Stoddart, Oshkosh executive vice president and president, defense, said in a statement.

"This is a mature, highly mobile vehicle that has operated successfully in the off-road mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, and we have several manufacturing facilities within our corporation that have excess capacity to exceed the services' delivery requirements."