Navistar Defense, LLC received an award to conduct the installation work associated with its January order to upgrade 2,717 International MaxxPro mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles with a new vehicle chassis. The $21 million contract from the US Army Contracting Command is just one of Navistar’s many reset offerings aimed at revitalising existing defence assets for future missions.

“We are focused on increasing the capabilities of our existing fleet with minimal impact to defence funding,” said Archie Massicotte, President, Navistar Defense. “The vehicle reset line we established for this installation work can also be utilised to restore older vehicles to like-new condition. Therefore, we are poised and ready to reset vehicles returning from deployment – either here at our facility or overseas.”

The installation contract retrofits vintage MaxxPro vehicles with a new rolling chassis. This chassis enhancement includes the addition of the DXM™ independent suspension, a MaxxForce 9.3 engine, 570 amp alternator and driveline, while leaving a residual chassis with a beam axle that can be reused. The retrofits will be conducted in West Point, Mississippi, and work is expected to be completed by the end of May 2012.

The company has fielded nearly 9,000 MaxxPro vehicles and continues to anticipate needed vehicle capabilities, enhancements, reset and reuse options for its entire fleet of 32,000 vehicles.