Oshkosh Corporation announced today that its Defense division has received orders valued at $24 million to supply its TAK-4® independent suspension system for more than 300 BAE Systems USCS RG-33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. BAE issued the orders following the receipt of contracts awarded from the MRAP Joint Program Office.
These are the latest in multiple deliveries Oshkosh Defense has received for its advanced independent suspension system to be supplied for legacy MRAPs. The TAK-4 system provides improved mobility for the difficult on- and off-road terrain in Afghanistan.
“The Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension delivers increased cross-country performance for legacy MRAPs to successfully handle and negotiate the most challenging environments,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “Our advanced suspension system is a more durable alternative than straight-axle suspensions, providing improved performance and greater crew comfort on rugged terrain.”
In testing of a BAE Systems RG-33 MRAP upgraded with the Oshkosh TAK-4 system, the military determined the enhancement significantly improved the vehicle’s mobility. Based on this successful testing, Oshkosh worked with BAE Systems to develop a suspension kit for the RG-33 USSOCOM variant.
The vehicles will be upgraded in theater, with work expected to be completed by March 31, 2010. Oshkosh Defense is working with multiple manufacturers of legacy MRAPs and has now received orders for more than 2,300 TAK-4 systems for the vehicles.
The advanced suspension system, which has undergone more than 400,000 miles of government testing, also is featured on the MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and the U.S. Army’s Palletized Load System (PLS A1), as well as the U.S. Marine Corps’ Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) and Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR).
Vehicles outfitted with Oshkosh’s TAK-4 independent suspension system benefit from:
-- Increased vehicle mobility – 16 inches of independent wheel travel provide advanced off-road capabilities in the most rugged terrain of Afghanistan
-- Improved ride quality – shock and vibration are greatly reduced resulting in mission-ready soldiers and Marines and longer component life
-- Greater off-road speeds – speed off-road is almost triple that of straight axle vehicles, improving mobility as well as survivability
-- Lower life-cycle costs – more than 75 percent of the parts are common with the U.S. Marine Corps MTVR for improved reliability, as well as streamlined availability and training.
Oshkosh Defense is a current manufacturer of both medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles for the U.S. Department of Defense, having produced more than 67,000 new vehicles in its manufacturing facilities. The company’s use of an advanced integrated assembly line has allowed for the simultaneous production of as many as 10 vehicle models with 29 variations. A highly skilled in-house engineering team coupled with an experienced production workforce help Oshkosh continually improve vehicle quality levels through design innovations, assembly process improvements and lean manufacturing.
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons.
