$225.1M for FMTV Load Handling System Trucks
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The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, MI recently awarded Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle System LP in Sealy, TX a pair of modifications to a firm-fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicle Load Handling System Trucks and Trailers (DAAE07-03-C-S023). One modification is for $219.1 million, and the other is for $6 million.
The 14 variants in the FMTV family will form the core of the USA’s new state-of-the-art military transport truck fleet with its many contracts and modifications. The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, all automatic, come in 14 variants of 2.5-ton cargo and van models and 5-ton cargo, tractor, van, wrecker, tanker and dump-truck models in various 4×4 and 6×6 configurations. Some models also have attached trailers that increase their carrying capacity.
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The FMTV A1 is the latest version in the family, and brings state-of-the-art commercial truck technology to military tactical vehicles with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), an exhaust retarder, a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS), and an ultra high speed J1939 electronic databus. This databus makes the new Interactive Electronic Technical Manual (IETM) possible.
The common engines, transmissions, drivelines, power trains, tires, cabs – indeed, over 80% parts commonality in the new trucks – are also expected to save the Army millions of dollars in maintenance costs. Lighter-weight construction will cut fuel costs dramatically. Meanwhile, the FMTV family’s cab-over design, in which engine, fluids and hydraulics are all accessible in one place under the cab, is designed to make regular maintenance much easier.
Other improvements on the FMTV A1 vehicles include increased protection against corrosion through double-sided, galvanized, all-steel cabs, stainless steel exhaust systems, chip resistant coatings and many other material and design upgrades. These advances have helped make FMTV is the first tactical vehicle ever to reach the 22-year mark in accelerated corrosion tests at the Aberdeen Test Center.
In addition to its role as the backbone of the US Army’s truck fleet, FMTV trucks serve as the base for key weapons systems like the future MEADS air-defense system and the new HIMARS air-portable multiple rocket launchers.
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In April 2003 the United States Army awarded the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) A1 Competitive Rebuy production contract to Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP (TVS), a division of Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. The contract, potentially worth more than $2 billion, was issued by the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armament Command (TACOM) and includes production that could reach nearly 11,000 FMTV trucks and trailers over five years, with an option for up to 12,000 additional vehicles.
Work on the contracts noted at the beginning of this article will be performed in Sealy, TX and is expected to be complete by Nov. 15, 2008. There were two bids solicited on Aug. 15, 2002 for the applicable contract (DAAE07-03-C-S023), and two bids were received.
In addition to procurement of new vehicles, extensive reset/ refurbishment work is being performed on FMTV trucks as they return from combat theaters.
