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07 Feb 12. Ford Motor Co has decided not to participate in a new Pentagon competition to replace the U.S. military’s fleet of workhorse Humvee vehicles. Ford said it had examined a possible joint bid with defense contractor Raytheon Co and Future Force, a private maker of lightweight armor, but the three companies decided they could not meet the U.S. Army’s proposed schedule for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
“Ford, Raytheon and Future Force … have reviewed the request for Proposal for the JLTV program and decided to pass because we are unable to meet the program’s timing requirements,” said Ford spokesman Mike Levine. Levine declined comment on when Ford first became interested in the joint vehicle program, which is being led by the Army. The trucks will be used by both the Army and Marines. He said Ford had assembled the team that reviewed a possible bid. Raytheon declined comment, referring all questions to Ford. Industry sources said Ford’s decision to skip the competition was a setback for some Army officials who had hoped to drive down costs and move toward more commercial-type truck production by bringing in the No. 2 U.S. automaker. The Army had no immediate comment. (Source: Reuters)
06 Feb 12. Patria and Volvo Group have signed an exclusive teaming agreement to offer new concepts and partnerships related to comprehensive life-cycle support services for the Swedish Armed Forces’ possibly upcoming needs. Patria is in the process of delivering 113 AMV 8×8 armoured wheeled vehicles to the Swedish Army in addition to the about 200 Patria XA 6×6 vehicles already in service there. Volvo Group is a long-term supplier of vehicles to the Swedish Armed Forces and has an extensive network of service and maintenance facilities.
08 Feb 12. Navistar Defense, LLC, Indigen Armor and SAIC will team for the upcoming U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 (GMV 1.1) program. The GMV 1.1 program requires a highly mobile, roll-off mission-ready platform that is transportable on a CH-47 helicopter. To support Special Operations (Specops) missions, each vehicle will be integrated with a full government furnished Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite.
“We are eager to team with Indigen Armor and SAIC to provide U.S. Special Operations forces with an off-road truck that possesses unprecedented mobility and is designed to be an affordable solution throughout its lifecycle,” said Archie Massicotte, president of Navistar Defense. “Navistar brings world-class truck and engine integration capabilities to the table and with our partners we will be able to provide quick-to-market products to support the needs of Special Operators.”
“As a company founded by special operations personnel to design vehicles for special operations personnel, Indigen Armor is excited to add to the subject matter expertise of Navistar and SAIC to provide the finest solution for SOCOM’s GMV 1.1 requirement,” said John Choate, president of Indigen Armor and former Navy SEAL. “This team establishes a robust alliance that combines proven expertise in meeting Specops mobility requirements, automotive design and manufacturing, C4ISR integration, logistics support and contract management.”
Under the teaming agreements, Navistar will serve as the prime contractor for the GMV 1.1 program. Navistar and Indigen Armor will combine their automotive and Special Operations expertise with SAIC’s skill in C4ISR technologies and its ability to field and provide integrated logistics support.
“This team understands SOCOM’s mission requirements and has worked well together supporting them in recent years,” said Glenn San Giacomo, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. “These