WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today praised the award of $191 million to Navistar Defense for the delivery of new medium tactical vehicles and enhancements to its mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) units in Afghanistan.

Navistar Defense received two separate awards for the projects.  The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command has awarded $89 million for a new order of 629 medium tactical vehicles that will be used to transport troops in Afghanistan. The vehicles will be built at Navistar’s facility at West Point, and delivery of the trucks is expected to begin in October 2010.

Additionally, the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command awarded Navistar $102 million for MRAP capability enhancements for 1,222 units currently in Afghanistan.  The parts kits for the enhancements will also be built at West Point.

“I am pleased that Navistar Defense has been awarded contracts to continue to provide the Defense Department with new transport vehicles and upgrades to existing MRAP units to make these life-saving vehicles suitable for the more challenging terrain in Afghanistan.  We should all be proud that Mississippi’s workforce will carry out these contracts, which will keep our men and women in uniform safe as they carry out their missions,” said Cochran, ranking Republican on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

“These awards are great news for Mississippi and our state’s growing defense industry.  This additional work will allow our state’s skilled workforce to continue to play a critical role in our nation’s homeland security,” said Wicker, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 

Navistar Defense is headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois, and West Point, Mississippi, is one of three sites for military vehicle production.

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