LADSON, S.C., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- Force Protection Industries, Inc. of South Carolina says it has received a milestone of more than $1billion in new orders in 2010.
A modification to a contract last week for approximately $13.4 million from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command to provide additional field service support, propelled total orders received during 2010 to more than $1 billion.
Of the orders received, about 53 percent were associated with modernization, spares and sustainment for the company's installed fleet of more than 4,500 vehicles worldwide, it said.
New vehicle orders accounted for approximately 47 percent of the total.
"This important milestone is the result of the hard work and attention that we placed on a number of initiatives during 2010," said Force Protection Chief Operating Officer Randy Hutcherson. "These efforts included continued expansion of our Kuwait operations and leaning forward in Afghanistan to capitalize on opportunities to provide much needed upgrades and modernization on our existing fleet of vehicles and MRAPs supplied by other OEMs, as well as providing spares and sustainment for our vehicles in the ongoing operations that have now transitioned from Iraq to Afghanistan.
"Just as important was our focus on obtaining additional Buffalo and Cougar vehicle orders, as well as the design, development and successful marketing of the Ocelot for competition in, and ultimate contract award for, the United Kingdom's Light Protected Patrol Vehicle program in which deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second half of 2011."
