BAE Systems in Sterling Heights has been awarded two contract modifications from the U.S. Army worth up to $575 million for the low-rate initial production of the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
The vehicles are highly mobile, survivable, and multipurpose. They were designed for the U.S. Army’s Armored Brigade Combat Teams’ mission.
“Moving into this phase of the (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle) program is exciting because it brings soldiers one step closer to deploying this critical capability for completing their missions and coming home safely,” says Bill Sheehy, Armored Brigade Combat Teams program director for BAE Systems’ combat vehicles business. “We have been preparing for this moment and are ready to take this program to the next stage.”
BAE Systems has started production thanks to previously awarded funding and a $128-million January award. A second award in February for $447 million brings the total funding so far to $873 million.
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program gives the Army a more survivable mobile fleet and addresses a need to replace Vietnam War-era M113s. It meets the Army’s force protection and all-terrain mobility requirements. Production will include five variants of the vehicle: command and control, general purpose, medical evacuation, medical treatment, and mortar carrier.
The contracts follow the engineering, manufacturing, and development phase as well as a Milestone C decision. Under the earlier engineering, manufacturing, and development award, the company produced and delivered prototype vehicles to the Army for testing and evaluation.
BAE Systems supplies combat vehicles to the U.S. military and allied nations. Work on the program will take place at the company’s facilities in South Carolina, Minnesota, California, and Pennsylvania, as well as the Sterling Heights facility.