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MXT, normal & up-armored
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At the end of October 2008, Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced a GBP 700 million program to buy a wide range of survivable vehicles for logistics and support duties in Afghanistan, as well as some specialized functions like mine clearing. On Nov 19/08, the UK MoD announced preferred bidders for the 3 classes of Tactical Support Vehicles (TSVs). A variant of the Cougar MRAP would serve as the heavy Wolfhound TSV, while a 6×6 variant of the Supacat HMT all-terrain patrol vehicle would serve as the Coyote Light TSV for off-road use. Navistar’s MXT light truck was the preferred bidder in the medium Husky TSV category – and that win may position Navistar for another big win in a subsequent British competition.

Navistar’s MXT is designed to fill a gap. Smaller armored 4×4 like the Hummer have limitations regarding payload and protection. On the other hand, larger Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles may have issues with lighter bridges, or with certain kinds of terrain due to their greater weight and higher center of gravity. General Dynamics MOWAG’s Eagle IV, which is based on a Duro truck chassis instead of the Hummer chassis common to EAGLE I-III vehicles, is another example in this category…

Navistar MXT-MVA concept
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Navistar has announced contract negotiations to provide 260 Husky TSV medium vehicles based on its International MXT platform, and anticipates that the contract will be signed in early 2009.

Like the Eagle IV, which maxes out at NATO STANAG 2a, the Husky appears to be a standard flat-bottomed chassis with extra armor protection. The Husky will come in 3 vehicle types: utility, ambulance and command vehicle, all of which will be powered by 300hp MaxxForce D 6.0L V8 engines, with 530 foot-pounds of torque at 3,000 rpm. The vehicles themselves weigh 15,300 pounds, as opposed to the 9,000 or so pounds of an M1114 up-armored Hummer. A Husky’s a chassis payload capacity is 4,000 pounds, with a total Gross Vehicle Weight (max. recommended) around 19,000 pounds instead of the Hummer’s 12,000 or so, and a towing capacity of 26,000 pounds. The vehicles are fitted with Diamond Logic diagnostic systems, and optional AWARE Vehicle Intelligence GPS tracking.

The Husky vehicles will be produced at Navistar’s West Point, MS assembly plant, which has produced more than 5,300 MaxxPro MRAP vehicles so far. Modification can then be expected within the UK, in order to add some “government-furnished” systems and gear specific to the UK military. Delivery of the Husky TSVs is currently scheduled to begin during the first half of the 2009 calendar year.

The Husky contract follows Navistar’s selection in October 2008 as one of 9 finalists to compete to replace the U.K.’s Operational Utility Vehicle Systems (OUVS) program to replace light Land Rover, Wolf, Reynolds Boughton RB-44 and Pinzgauer vehicles. Navistar’s OUVS submissions is also based on their MXT, and current estimates place the opportunity at more than 4,000 vehicles.

Britain recently declined to participate in the American/Australian JLTV program, on the grounds that OUVS was primarily about logistics support rather than patrol vehicles, while patrolling was a heavy emphasis for JLTV. Given the frequent use of Land Rover Snatch as a patrol vehicle, and the accompanying controversies and casualties, this is a somewhat surprising rationale, but Britain’s 400 Iveco Panther CLV vehicles are expected to fill that JLTV-type role.

Contracts and Key Events

Nov 19/08: UK MoD announces the preferred bidders for the Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) contracts. Contracts must still be finalized and signed before any purchases can be made, and impasses in negotiations are possible, but this does not happen often. UK MoD release | Navistar release.

Oct 29/08: UK MoD announces a GBP 700 million program to buy improved protection vehicles for the Afghan front.