LISLE, Ill., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Nearly 3,000 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles are to be outfitted with new suspension chassis by Navistar Defense LLC of Illinois.
Navistar said the suspension upgrade for 2,717 International MaxxPro MRAPs came in an $880 million order from the U.S. Marine Corps System Command and work on the project starts this month.
"As Defense budgets are being reduced, it is imperative that we continue to develop economical solutions that repurpose assets while also working to ensure warfighters have access to emerging technologies and capabilities," said Archie Massicotte, president of Navistar Defense. "Our rolling chassis solution allows us to leverage our unique vehicle design and replace an older chassis with a new, highly mobile independent suspension chassis. During all this we keep the armored capsule intact while creating commonality through the entire MaxxPro fleet."
Navistar said the new chassis, when combined with independent suspension, improves off-road capabilities.
The work will be performed at a company facility in Mississippi and involves Army MRAPs as well as Marine Corps vehicles.
