US Marine Corps Selects International Truck and Engine Corporation as Finalist for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Contract
14 February 2007
Warrenville, Illionis – With ever-present danger for military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan due to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines, the US Military is looking for a new fleet of vehicles to improve crew survivability and enhance mission accomplishment. International Military and Government, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corporation, has been named as a finalist for the estimated $1 billion contract to provide up to 4,100 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to the US Marine Corps.
International Truck and Engine is the principal operating company of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE:NAV).
"International Truck and Engine offers a military vehicle that significantly enhances crew survivability while maintaining its maneuverability and performance in the field," said Dan Ustian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Navistar International Corporation. "After extensive development by International and its armoring partner, we're ready to deliver the first units to the US Marine Corps for testing and evaluation."
International will deliver four units for testing in March 2007. The US Marine Corps selected International as a finalist based on crew survivability and armoring technology. As International's commercial trucks are built to carry heavy loads over long distances, they are designed to accommodate the weight of protective armor built into the truck design. The truck can perform better by protecting soldiers while maintaining its maneuverability in dangerous environments.
International's collaboration with armoring expert Plasan Sasa provides unparalleled technology to deliver armor resistance to mines and IEDs. Using Plasan Sasa's armoring expertise, combined with installation skills at its armor integration center in Mississippi, International has assembled a superior team to develop armored military vehicles.
International's trucks utilize a modular concept to armor its trucks for the MRAP bid. The design positions the v-shaped hull crew compartment on top of International's chassis. The truck chassis is typically used for rugged, durable, off-highway / on-highway applications. The v-shaped hull helps to deflect any blasts from underneath the truck to dissipate around the crew area, minimizing damage.
