The USA’s 2009 Hummer Orders
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The US military’s Hummers have demonstrated severe payload and survivability limitations. Nevertheless, they remain a fixture in the fleet, and new orders continue. At one point, the US Marines’ objective was to restrict Hummers to use “inside the wire” of American bases in Iraq. Instead, a sharp reduction in violence within Iraq, and a lower vehicle threat level so far in Afghanistan, have given the HMMWVs a new lease on life. They are still seeing extensive use on the front lines, and the early wear created by the weight of their add-on armor has led to RESET maintenance programs for some Hummers and allied giveaways for others.
By mid-2007, the US Army had about 19,000 HMMWVs serving on the Iraqi front alone. As Hummers wear out and are given away, or are sent to a depot, they must be replaced. Some replacement involves cycling vehicles from other units into theater, but those units must eventually have their lost vehicles replaced with Hummers or with something else, in order to maintain their own readiness rates for deployment. Hence the necessity for ongoing buys of more Hummers, in the absence of a program to provide replacements on a fleet-wide basis.
This Spotlight article covers the family’s newest variants, and chronicles the US military’s 2009 purchases. Recent updates cover the final set of FY 2009 orders, and enhanced the timeline via a detailed search that reconciled budgets with announced orders.
- Hummer Replacements?
- The HMMWV Family
- Contracts and Key Events, FY 2009 [updated]
- Additional Readings
Hummer Replacements?
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Orders and shipments of blast-resistant MRAP vehicles have largely ceased, after a run of over 15,000 vehicles. Many now serve in theater, where they replace Hummers in some roles.
The 40,000 to 60,000 vehicle JLTV program will not field Hummer replacements until 2014 – if it survives at all. The US military is also working on an interim M-ATV program that will buy about 5,000 lighter blast-resistant vehicles for use on the front lines, but that program has yet to issue a production contract, let alone fielding vehicles in theater.
All of these options distinguish themselves from the HMMWV or “hummer” by having smooth, shaped bottoms that deflect land mine blasts away, instead of flat bottoms with lots of pockets that catch, reflect, and re-catch under-body explosion blasts, in an iterative cycle.
The HMMWV Family
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M1151 Hummers are Enhanced Armament Carriers, while M1152s are Enhanced Troop/ Cargo/ Shelter Carriers and M1152P1s are ambulances. They’re based on the same “A2” chassis as the M1114 up-armored Humvee and the M1151 in particular may be hard to tell apart, but there are important differences… and this DID article explains them. The M1151 & M1152 HMMWV models were formally announced on October 20, 2004; and AM General reported first fielding of these vehicles in Iraq on March 20, 2006.
M1151 Hummers are 4-door Enhanced Armament Carriers, while M1152s are 2-door Enhanced Troop/ Cargo/ Shelter or weapon carriers. M1152P1s are ambulances. All are based on the same “A2” chassis as the M1114 up-armored Humvee and the M1151 in particular may be hard to tell apart because it looks very similar. The big difference is that the M1151/ M1152 design has armor that can quickly be installed and uninstalled from the vehicle by the crew members themselves, without requiring special lift tools. As an Armor Holdings LLC release noted back in March 2005:
“The M1151 and M1152 will be armored to specified levels in the production process and will be fitted to allow rapid addition of add-on-armor in the field using limited tooling and manpower.”
The M1151 & M1152 HMMWV models were formally announced on October 20, 2004; and AMC reported first fielding of these vehicles in Iraq on March 20, 2006.
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new parts in yellow)
The M1165 HMMWV is a 4-door HMMWV Enhanced Troop/ Cargo/ Shelter Carrier on an ECV (Expanded Capacity Vehicle) chassis, contracted in 2006 to combine the roles of the M1097A2 ‘HMMWV Truck’ (vid. its shortcomings) and M1113 models.
All of these vehicles have had some changes made as a result of experience with the harsh environment of South West Asia, rising payload demands to accommodate the weight of armor, and some feedback from the field. As a result, the US military has begun fielding “Reliability Enhanced” M1151, M1152 and M1165 model HMMWVs.
Once pressed into service, the HMMWVs are up-armored, typically with “Frag Kit 5” or the newer and even heavier “Frag Kit 6” armoring, which can make it difficult for troops to close their doors without assistance. The weapon station also receives additional gear, usually either the OGPK (Objective Gunner’s Protection Kit) turret, or remote-control weapons like the CROWS system.
Contracts and Key Events, FY 2009
According to Pentagon documents, the US Army ordered 17,012 Hummers of various types in 2008, while the US Marine Corps ordered 1,206, for a total of 18,218 vehicles and $3.15 billion. The FY 2009 budget contemplates 11,296 Hummers for about $1.86 billion, split 10,995 Army and 301 USMC.
To date, announced FY 2009 HMMWV-related orders covered here total about $1.723 billion, and involve 11,677 vehicles.
The FY 2010 request is for $1.75 billion for 10,214 Army and 54 USMC Hummers, with about 80% (8,444) bought using “Overseas Contingency Operations” supplemental funding.
All orders are issued and managed by the U.S. Army Tank & Automotive Command in Warren, MI. Unless the entry says otherwise, the contractor is AM General, LLC in South Bend, IN.
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Oct 15/09: A maximum $26.2 million firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for the integrated logistics partnership contract in support of HMMWV requirements. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, Chambersburg, PA, and Texarkana, TX. There was 1 proposal solicited with 1 response. This requirements type contract is for 1 base year and 4 one-year options periods. The date of performance completion is January 2011. The Defense Supply Center Columbus in Ohio manages the contract (SPM7LX-09-D-9001).
Sept 30/09: A $60.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for 335 Hummers. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S-001).
Sept 30/09 marks the end of FY 2009.
Sept 30/09: A $55.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for 373 Hummers. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S-001).
Sept 30/09: A $25.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for 165 Hummers. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S-001).
Sept 30/09: A $17.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for 113 Hummers. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S-001).
Sept 17/09: A $283 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 1,746 Hummers. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Aug 7/09: A $124.2 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 843 Enhanced Armor HMMWVs to the contract. Work will be performed in Mishawka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid solicited with one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
June 17/09: A $27.7 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 218 Hummers. Work is to be performed in Mishawaka, IN with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid solicited and one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
April 29/09: A $14 million firm-fixed contract to add 88 Hummers to their existing to contract. Work is to be performed in Mishawaka, IN with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Feb 3/08: A $510.8 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 3,401 Hummers. Work is being performed at Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Feb 2/08: Bogert International Inc. in Pasco, WA received a $16.6 million firm-fixed-price, 5-year indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for HMMWV lifting jacks. The minimum order is 10,000, and the maximum order is 108,243. Work will be performed in Pasco, WA, with an estimated completion date of Jan 23/14 (W56HZV-09-D-0060).
Jan 2/09: A $54.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for 1,698 Enhanced Armor HMMWVs. Work will be performed at Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
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Dec 31/08: A $252.2 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 1,698 Enhanced Armor HMMWVs. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid was received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Dec 31/08: Friction Product Co. in Medina, OH won a maximum $10 million fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for HMMWV brake parts. There were originally 3 quotes requested by the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC), Columbus, OH, with 3 responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and this contract ends on Nov 11/09 (SPM7L3-08-M-2351).
Dec 16/09: A $17.2 million firm fixed price contract for 146 Enhanced Armor HMMWVs. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid was received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Nov 4/08: A $100.4 million firm-fixed-price contract to add 853 Enhanced Armor HMMWVs. Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. One bid was solicited and one bid was received (DAAE07-01-C-S001).
Oct 22/08: A $179.6 million firm-fixed price contract for “High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled vehicles to contract.” Work will be performed in Mishawaka, IN, with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/09. Bids solicited were via Broad Agency Announcement, and 9 bids were received (DAAE07-01-C-S-001).
Oct 16/08: It isn’t just about the orders, or work by the contractor. The USMC runs a feature covering their Maintenance Center Albany, which stood up its current HMMWV production line in March 2007. Since then, more than 756 additional HMMWVs have been sent there for “Inspect and Repair only as Necessary” service, with an initial repair cycle time of 70 days per unit. Process improvements have now cut that time to to 23 days. approximately 80 HMMWVs per month are now coming off the MCA line, and projections call for production to gradually increase to 100 units per month by spring 2009.
The number of workers supporting the HMMWV line directly and indirectly at Maintenance Center Albany totals approximately 190.
Additional Readings
- AM General – HMMWV (Humvee): Features and Design
- AM General – Reliability Enhanced HMMWVs
- US Army Fact Files – HMMWV
- GlobalSecurity.org – High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)
- Wikipedia – High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
- US Defense Center Columbus – HMMWV RECAP
