$126.3M Adds 500 more M113A3 Family Vehicle Upgrades
The Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI recently issued a pair of contracts connected with upgrading the USA’s M113 fleet to M113A3 status. The U.S. Army will upgrade up to 500 M113 family vehicles to the latest A3 configuration, adding 73 more M577A3 Command Post Carriers, 66 more M1064A3 Mortar Carriers and 361 more M1068A3 Standard Integrated Command Post (SICPS) Carriers to BAE Systems’ current contract to produce 356 upgraded vehicles.
An earlier DID article offered background information regarding each of these systems. Recent contracts connected with this effort include:

An $18.5 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for BAE Systems, in Anniston, AL for overhaul and upgrade of 68 M1068A3 Standard Integrated Command Post System (SICPS) vehicles. Work will be performed in Anniston, AL and is expected to be complete by April 30, 2007. This option is part of a larger $126.3 million sole source contract addition described above, covering 500 more M113 family vehicles (W56HZV-05-C-0463).
According to BAE’s M113 program manager Tim Balliett, the upgrade will include “additional armor protection and improved night vision equipment in addition to the upgraded engine, transmission and steering mechanism. The Vice President and General Manager of the BAE’s Anniston facility added that “We have invested some $12 million and doubled our upgrade/overhaul capacity in Anniston… We anticipate our workforce will grow by 200 plus employees as we perform the work under this contract and our M88A1 Recovery Vehicle contract.”
General Motors Corp. in Indianapolis, IN received a $14.5 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for X200-4 to X200-4A transmission upgrade and repair in reconditioned containers. These improved transmissions are also associated with M113A3 upgrades. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, IN, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2007. This was a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 1, 2006 (W56HZV-04-C-0422).