Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has awarded Oshkosh Defense a $476.2-million-dollar seven-year contract to build the latest Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles for it.Oshkosh, headquartered in Wisconsin, expects to complete the A2 variant vehicles by Feb. 7, 2022, the U.S. Army announced on Wednesday.
The 15-vehicle family, which shares a common chassis and components, moves weapons, sensors and communication platforms for active, reserve and National Guard soldiers. The payloads range from three to 10 tons in combat mission support, relief efforts, logistics and supply operations.
FMTVs went into service in 1996 to replace the 2.5-ton "deuce-and-a-half" and 5-ton trucks. Stewart & Stevenson, which later was acquired by BAE Systems, built the original vehicles.
"We are pleased to have been selected for this opportunity to continue to ensure that our troops get the best possible equipment to complete their missions, and return home safely," Pat Williams, vice president and general manager of Army and Marine Corps Programs at Oshkosh Defense, said in a statement.
"With the Oshkosh FMTV A2, our troops are getting the safest, most capable and reliable FMTV this program has ever seen. We are fully prepared to build the next generation fleet of exceptional, cost-effective FMTVs to serve our troops in future missions."