AURA SYSTEMS AND STEWART & STEVENSON COMBINE TO PROMOTE AuraGen VIPER
3 Oct 02. Aura Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: AURA – News) today announced that Stewart & Stevenson (Nasdaq: SSSS – News) Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP and Aura Systems have entered into a teaming agreement to promote the application of the AuraGen(r) VIPER (Vehicle Integrated Primary Electrical Resource) Mobile Induction Power Source on the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV). Stewart & Stevenson will offer the VIPER as an option on FMTV A1CR “variants” as part of the U.S. Military Re-buy Competition that is being bid by Stewart & Stevenson. The Government currently is expected to make its decision in Q1’03.
Both companies will jointly market the advanced mobile power option to the military, and Stewart & Stevenson will feature the AuraGen VIPER on an FMTV demonstration vehicle featured at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., 21-23 October.
“This agreement offers an alternative for providing high-quality, cost-effective mobile electric power to the ongoing Transformation of the battlefield,” said Dennis Dellinger, TVS president. “Teaming with Aura brings unique mobile power technology to our Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. The VIPER’s superior combination of performance and versatility, within a single system requiring no scheduled maintenance, is significantly lighter, more compact and more cost-effective than mobile engine generator sets.”
“We are proud of the contribution that the AuraGen VIPER is making to the capabilities of our Military forces in the field,” said Aura Chairman and CEO Neal Meehan. “The fact that leading defense firms such as Stewart &
Stevenson have chosen the AuraGen VIPER to meet their mobile power requirements shows the increasing recognition of the VIPER’s capabilities. We are excited about teaming with S&S on this important military program.”
4 Oct 02. Stewart & Stevenson is exhibiting on a number of outdoor and indoor locations at this year’s AUSA show.
On Indoor Booth No. 3308 in Hall C the features will include the FMTV Enhanced Crew Protected cab for the Lockheed Martin HIMARS rocket system.
In the Outdoor area exhibits include:
The FMTV Load handling System (LHS) is displayed showing new technology that allows a single operator to self-load/unload a truck and companion trailer with 20′ ISO containers or flat racks.
The FMTV 5-tonne chassis is also the choice for the HIMARS and US MEADS hybrid Electric Launcher
In addition the company has teamed with the U.S. National Automotive Center (NAC) and Permo-Drive Technologies to produce the FMTV Hybrid Hydraulic Vehicle which stores energy normally wasted in the braking process and reuses this energy on acceleration.
On Tuesday October 22nd, S&S President & CEO Michael Grimes and other top officials will unveil recent R&D accomplishments and future FMTV initiatives including the rebuy programme being competed against Oshkosh for a rebuy.