US DoD awards FMTV protection kits contract to O’gara

US-based company O’gara-Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring has been awarded a contract to supply protection kits for the US military’s family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV).

The five-year, firm-fixed-price contract is valued at approximately $60.74m. The US Department of Defense (DoD) said that the bids were solicited through the internet and it received six proposals.

The department also noted that work under the contract is expected to be completed on 31 December 2023 while locations and funding will be decided with each order.

The US Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is serving as the contracting activity.

Military programmes and business development director Jeff Earley was quoted by Jane’s as saying that the FMTV protection kits are designed to safeguard the vehicles from ‘small arms and armour piercing rounds’.

The kits will provide ‘underbody blast protection and advanced ballistic and blast protection’, Earley further added.

The new-generation of Oshkosh FMTVs comprises 17 models, which range from 2.5t to 10t payloads.

The vehicles can carry out a wide range of missions, in addition to supporting combat missions, relief efforts and logistics and supply operations.

Featuring a parts commonality of over 80%, the FMTVs are capable of seamlessly integrating technologies to suit mission requirements.

In October, O’gara announced its partnership with Jaguar Land Rover. At the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Meeting, the partnership revealed the ‘Discovery Armor Ready Chassis’.

The company designs, fabricates and integrates armoured products for several protection requirements on military and commercial platforms.