Navistar Defense, LLC unveiled its International® Saratoga™ light tactical vehicle at the ongoing Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Symposium (10-12 October 2011; Washington, D.C.).

The company designed the vehicle for superior survivability, mobility and transportability to target the gap between the current High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Modernized Expanded Capacity Vehicle (MECV) and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programs. The vehicle is ready for production to meet today’s mission needs.

Defense budgets are shifting and the circumstances demand that industry anticipate what our warfighters need rather than wait for a written requirement,” said Archie Massicotte, President, Navistar Defense. “Finding a gap in the market is what we do in the commercial world and we are at it again for the sake of our warfighters. The government needs options and the Saratoga is an affordable solution - available now".

The Saratoga light tactical vehicle has a high degree of commonality with fielded vehicles and incorporates Navistar’s automotive and manufacturing expertise. The company has also designed and tested its own proprietary geometry survivability solution for the vehicle. Considering material mix, vehicle structure and hull shape, the Saratoga offers a more survivable solution for the light tactical vehicle class while also meeting 76” transportability height.

The vehicle meets the most demanding performance needs and has undergone more than 25,000 miles of automotive testing. The Saratoga incorporates the MaxxForce® D6.0L V8 engine, automatic engaging limited slip differentials, Allison 2100 SP 6-SP Automatic Transmission and air independent suspension for added control.

We believe the Saratoga is a turning point for tactical wheeled vehicles just as the Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the American Revolutionary War,” said Massicotte. “The warfighter needs it today and we are ready".