STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army is receiving 115 additional Stryker combat vehicles equipped with double-V hulls through a $243 million contract to General Dynamics Land Systems.
The double-V hull was developed on an accelerated timeline to provide Stryker-borne soldiers increased protection from the effects of roadside mines and improvised explosive devices.
Recent Army reports indicate that deployed vehicles with the new double-V-hull design are providing significantly increased protection and survivability to soldiers.
About 300 double-V-hulled Stryker vehicles have been delivered to the Army under a contract awarded in July 2010 for the production of 450 double-V-hull vehicles.
General Dynamics said its engineers and production workers engineered, manufactured and delivered the first operational vehicles to the Army in about 14 months.
Under the new contract, General Dynamics will provide production sustainment support and obsolescence management services. Work will be performed in Anniston, Ala.; London, Ontario; and Lima, Ohio. Deliveries will be completed by September 2012.
The vehicles ordered are in six variants: Infantry Carrier, Medical Evacuation Vehicle, Engineers Squad Vehicle, Fire Support Vehicle, Commanders Vehicle and Mortar Carrier Vehicle.
