The Malaysian Government has awarded a contract to DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (Deftech) to manufacture 257 units of 8×8 armoured wheeled vehicles to be used by the Malaysian Army.

Under the RM8bn ($2.5bn) contract, Deftech will develop, manufacture, supply and deliver 12 variants of the armoured wheeled vehicle, according to biz.thestar.com.my.

Deftech chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil said the project would span six years.

“We will deliver the 257 8×8 armoured wheeled vehicles to the government by 2016 and the company will come out with the first vehicle by January 2012,” he said.