(NSI News Source Info) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - February 22, 2011:
Navistar Defense, LLC yesterday showcased its International MaxxPro Dash Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) ambulance variant at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exhibition. The company can also offer ambulance kits to convert existing MRAP vehicles into blast-protected ambulances.
“Our warfighters are challenged to complete a variety of missions and survivability continues to be key,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “After fielding nearly 8,000 MaxxPro vehicles, we are proud to make the Dash ambulance available to help support the ongoing critical need for MRAP vehicles.”
The Dash Ambulance includes an easy-to-use litter assist system as well as a protected work space benefitting medics and patients. This solution, paired with the company’s DXM™ independent suspension, helps medical aid navigate rough terrain to get where it is needed.
In addition to new vehicles, Navistar offers a MaxxPro ambulance kit, which can be installed into existing MaxxPro vehicles including the MaxxPro Base, Plus and Dash variants.
As one of the leading providers of MRAP vehicles, Navistar is committed to expanding its family of vehicles to serve multiple mission types. The company also continually develops vehicle enhancements. One of these enhancements, the DXM independent suspension, is currently being retrofitted onto existing MaxxPro vehicles.
Company or Organisation Portrait:
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services. |
| Company or Organisation Contact:
Media contact:
Elissa Koc
+1-630-753-2669
Investor contact:
Heather Kos
+1630-753-2406 |
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The new program could be worth over $40 billion over the next decade. The Pentagon evaluated proposals and models submitted by six teams, and awarded development contracts to three of the teams. General Tactical Vehicles group, combining General Dynamics Land Systems and HMMWV maker AM General was awarded $45 million; the Navistar-BAE Systems team received $40.5 million and Lockheed Martin, also teamed with BAE Systems received $36 million contracts.
The later was a cost plus fixed fee contract while the first two are cost share awards. Three of the losing teams filed protests on the selection decision, causing the Army to issue 'Stop Work' order pending a decision by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Each of the teams selected will be asked to build four test vehicles during the first 15 months, to be followed by a test phase that could last another year. One or two winning teams will receive Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contracts by 2011, to begin production of vehicles, and accelerate production over the next 24 months.
According to Lt. Col. Ben Garza, JLTV Program Manager for the US Marine Corps, the test and evaluation phase will include testing of the vehicle's armor and ballistic hulls, the vehicle and trailers will undergo performance and reliability testing, including assessments from joint warfighters. Furthermore, the teams will have to demonstrate a 'family of vehicles' approach across the three payload categories and share a commonality of components, demonstrate technical maturity, requirements achievability and integration capabilities.
While the winners of the contracts will ultimately produce refined prototypes of the vehicles at the end of the current technology demonstration phase, the Army's current intention is to hold another full and open competition for the system development and demonstration (SDD) phase which will allow all interested parties to compete.
The Pentagon is also interested in extending international involvement in program. Australia has officially endorsed the program and is interested to commit by 2010, as the vehicle design is matured. Britain, Israel and Canada are also interested and were reported to be discussing possible co-development funding. 
On February 17, 2009 GAO denied protests filed in November last year by three teams that lost the initial selection process of the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle - Textron-Boeing-SAIC, Northrop Grumman-Oshkosh and Force Protection. The GAO decision will enable Pentagon to launch the 15 month program designing and manufacturing 12 vehicles for subsequent testing, leading to a procurement decision in 2011. After the filing of the protest, the Army issued stop work orders to the winning companies, an action that could have delayed the program by few months.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in a statement the medium-sized trucks, built by Navistar Defense LLC in Texas, will be the logistics backbone of the army.
The vehicles will be used in Canada to support domestic operations.
The government said that, as part of the contract, Navistar will generate one dollar of economic activity in Canada for every dollar it receives from the deal.
That will be achieved through maintenance and repair of the vehicles, which will be supported through the company's local dealer network.
"One of the reasons we were selected is that we have an extraordinary dealer network up in Canada and that network, and the ability to provide parts ... is one of the things that work in our favor," said Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley.
He added that the company will be buying parts from Canadian firms.
"For instance, all the tires will be Michelin tires coming out of a Michelin plant over in Nova Scotia," he said.
The announcement of the deal came just days after Navistar told employees at its Chatham, Ontario, truck plant it plans to lay off up to 199 employees on top of the 499 set to lose their jobs on Feb. 2. The company had fewer than 1,000 workers at the plant in November.
The latest layoffs take effect March 2.
Wiley said the military vehicles will be built in Garland, Texas. The plant in Chatham, Ontario, a city of about 100,000, 290 km (180 miles) west of Toronto, builds larger trucks, he said.
At its peak, Navistar produced over 200 trucks a day in Chatham, but production dwindled to around 100 units a day by the end of last year as sales slumped due to the global recession.
The Chatham plant must continue to turn out a minimum of 35 trucks a day according to an agreement reached between the company and the Canadian Auto Workers union.
In 2003, Navistar said it was going to close the plant in Chatham completely and move production to Mexico.
The CAW said it agreed to significant concessions to keep the plant in Ontario and the federal and provincial governments kicked in C$65 million in financial assistance to sweeten the deal.
A CAW spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
The military trucks will be delivered to the army over an 18-month period starting this summer. 
