OSHKOSH, Wis., Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps announced it has contracted Oshkosh Truck with Ideal Innovations and Ceradyne for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected II test vehicles.
Under the $18.1 million deal by the U.S. Marine Corps Joint MRAP program office, the three companies' joint project will be expected to deliver six of their MRAP vehicles in the beginning of 2008 for further government testing of their explosively formed penetrator resistant capabilities.
"Oshkosh Truck understands the complex mobility and protection requirements of armored vehicles, and with many companies competing for these contracts, it says volumes that Oshkosh was only one of two companies selected," Robert Bohn, Oshkosh Truck chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
"The Oshkosh Truck armored vehicles are engineered to help protect U.S. troops against asymmetric warfare threats such as mines and IEDs (improvised explosives devices), and we are proud to supply troops with armored vehicles to help keep them safer in the theater."
Officials say the Marine Corps MRAP II contracts also contain ordering options for production quantities.
