|
 An
industry team led by Protected Vehicles, Inc. (PVI) received
last week an initial $37.4 million order for the delivery of
60 Golan type Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Category II vehicles,
following the selection of the company among nine finalists
for the $2 billion 4,100 vehicle USMC acquisition program. The
team is led by North Charleston S.C. based PVI includes Rafael
Armament Development Authority of Haifa, Israel, Oshkosh Truck
corp. from Oshkosh, WI, and Battelle Memorial Institute of Ohio.
Additionally, PVI will serve as a subcontractor to Oshkosh Truck
Corporation (NYSE: OSK) for 100
MRAP Category I vehicles. The two selected MRAP vehicles
are the PVI-ALPHA and GOLAN, created and refined by Garth Barrett
and PVI over the past 14 months.
“We have been able to provide to the Marines two levels
of crew survivability, mobility, and lethality that are timely
to meet current and emerging threats. Our vehicles are new designs
which reduce casualties and increase survivability for Marines
and Soldiers subjected to mine explosions, Improvised Explosive
Device (IED) detonations, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and
Small Arms Fire (SAF). The PVI-ALPHA design supports Urban Combat
Operations, Mounted Combat Patrols and transport missions. The
GOLAN supports multiple missions, to include convoy operations,
troop transport missions, ambulance missions, Combat Engineer
and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) missions for maneuver
units, as well as close-in Urban Combat Operations,” said
Michael Sandusky, Executive Director for Program Management.
Earlier in February the team was awarded an initial order for
four vehicles corresponding to Category I (mine resistant utility
vehicle designed for urban combat) and II (heavier, counter
EOD, convoy protection and patrol vehicle) have been delivered
and tested by the USMC. 60 additional vehicles are on order,
to be delivered for by June. The first delivery order slates
MRAP vehicles, Category I & II, to be tested at Aberdeen
Proving Grounds in March. The Israeli version of the Golan MRAP
produced at RAFAEL is currently undergoing testing by the Israeli
Defense Force. Protected Vehicles, Inc. designs and manufactures
mine and ballistic protected vehicles using advanced U.S. technology;
technology derived from Rhodesian and South African vehicle
development programs carried out from 1970 through 1994; and
U.S. DoD technology developments.
|
