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U.S. to provide Humvee capability expansion kits to Afghanistan

AM General has received a $45.9 million contract for the procurement of 6,576 capability expansion kits for the Afghan National Defense Security Forces.

By Stephen Carlson
A Marine Corps M115 HMMWV light combat vehicle. U.S. Marine Corps photo
A Marine Corps M115 HMMWV light combat vehicle. U.S. Marine Corps photo

Sept. 22 (UPI) -- AM General has received a $45.9 million contract for the procurement of 6,576 capability expansion kits for the Afghan National Defense Security Forces.

The contract, announced Thursday by the Department of Defense, falls under foreign military sales and provides the kits for the M115 HMMWV. The production will take place in South Bend, Ind., and is expected to run through Aug. 31, 2018.

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The capability kits include fragmentary armor kits, underbody protection kits, headlamp stone guard kits and electronic metric gauge kits to support the HMMWVs, the U.S. Army Contracting Command told UPI.

The M115 HMMWV is a four-wheeled vehicle designed as a troop and weapons carrier. Modern variants are capable of receiving a variety of armor upgrades and include a ring-turret for medium and heavy weapons such as machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons.

Other versions have been produced to serve as light cargo carriers, ambulances and command-and-control vehicles. It has served as the standard utility vehicle for the U.S. military for decades and has been widely exported.

The HMMWV is slated to be phased out of front-line service in the U.S. in favor of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle due to its vulnerability to improvised explosive devices.

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