Feb 27 2007
U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada an $11 million delivery order to produce 20 vehicles for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. This contract is in addition to an order announced earlier for four MRAP vehicles for test and evaluation.
Under this latest agreement, General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) will produce 10 Category I and 10 Category II MRAP vehicles. This Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) order is being issued in advance of testing and full-scale production orders. With a stated requirement of 4,100 MRAP vehicles, General Dynamics continues to compete for the follow-on production orders.
The General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada MRAP vehicle is based on the RG-31 Mk5, the latest version of the highly successful RG-31 vehicle family. U.S. forces have previously ordered or received 424 RG-31 vehicles, including 265 Mk5s for the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The vehicles have proven to be highly effective against mines, improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats encountered by U.S. and Allied forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to provide the U.S. military with a vehicle that has proven itself in operations," said Dr. Sridhar Sridharan, senior vice-president of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. "The feedback from U.S. and Canadian soldiers who have credited the RG-31 with saving lives is the best testament to its effectiveness."
The contract was signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government.