Textron Marine & Land Systems [TXT] late yesterday said it received a second option award from the Army Contracting Command, for 65 additional Mobile Strike Force Vehicles (MSFV) for the Afghanistan National Army (ANA).
These vehicles are added to the current Undefinitized Contract Action and have a not-to-exceed value of $71.4 million.
Three variants are being produced: the MSFV with enclosed turret; the MSFV with objective gunner protection kit; and the MSFV ambulance.
The work is being done at Textron Marine & Land Systems’ facilities in the New Orleans area, with deliveries now scheduled through May 2013.
Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS), in May 2011, received an award for full-rate production of 240 MSFVs along with associated support equipment, spare parts, field service representatives, training and training aids. An additional option for 64 MSFVs was announced two months ago.
Mobile Strike Force Vehicles began arriving into Afghanistan in February. Afghan operator new equipment training began earlier this month, and the first ANA battalion, called a Kandak, will complete its vehicle training in June.
“It’s gratifying to learn about the Afghan soldiers’ enthusiasm as they move through their operator training program,” said Tom Walmsley, TM&LS senior vice president and general manager in a statement. “They are beginning to understand and experience the MSFV’s full range of capabilities—in terms of mobility, firepower, survivability and protection–in the environment where they’ll use these vehicles to carry out missions and respond to threats throughout the country.”
All Mobile Strike Force Vehicles are derived from the combat-proven M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), and are configured with Enhanced Survivability (ES) capability, which improves blast protection to mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) levels. The ES-equipped vehicles continue to possess the ASV’s original, all-important V-shaped hull design, in addition to innovative protection design features that enable them to meet MRAP blast protection standards.
The reliability and supportability of these vehicles for the ANA is reinforced by TM&LS’ Total Package Fielding concept, which includes technical manuals, spares, and comprehensive operator and maintenance training.