General Dynamics Land Systems [GD] has been awarded a $163 million Army contract to convert 93 flat-bottom Stryker infantry combat vehicles to a newer, more survivable double-V hull (DVH) design.
Photo: U.S. Army
The majority of work will be completed at the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Ala., by government and General Dynamics Land Systems employees. Additional work will be performed at General Dynamics locations in Lima, Ohio, and Scranton, Pa.
The House Armed Services Committee-passed markup of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, adding $50 million to the president’s budget request for a total of $89.6 million for an unfunded requirement for a fourth DVH brigade set. The full House has yet to vote on the bill.
On the Senate side, the Army is committed to converting the flat-bottomed Strykers to the DVH, Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno told the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee April 30. Contingent on congressional funding, the Army will continue to fund a third brigade’s set of DVH vehicles and then support upgrades to those vehicles to add more power and mobility.
The contract, issued by Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, has an estimated delivery date for the Stryker DVH vehicles in March 2016.
In 2012, the Army partnered with General Dynamics on a Stryker DVH-exchange pilot program validating that Stryker flat-bottom variants can be quickly refurbished and reassembled as a new, more survivable DVH variant, at less cost than producing a new vehicle.
General Dynamics and the Anniston Army Depot successfully completed the DVH pilot program in April 2013 and delivered 52 Stryker vehicles on time and under budget.