May 9 2007
Based on current and pending U.S. Department of Defense budget requests, Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. company, expects to deliver about 530 of its highly successful Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) units in 2007 and at least as many next year. The outlook for ASV production remains strong despite recent notification from the U.S. Marine Corps that the company will not be receiving any additional delivery orders for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP) program.
"We continue to experience both strong demand and exceptional customer feedback for the ASV," said Frank Tempesta, president, Textron Systems. "In addition, through our participation in the MRAP program, we were able to make some design improvements for integration into the ASV platform that will produce substantial benefits for present and future customers - design improvements that will serve to augment the long-term success of the current ASV program, as well as position Textron for the even longer-term success of the platform."
Textron's MRAP prototype design was a variant of their M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), which it produces principally for the U.S. Army. The company, through its Textron Marine & Land Systems operating unit in New Orleans, was one of nine companies asked to develop and submit prototype/test vehicles for consideration for the U.S. Marine program.