New Orleans, LA -- Textron Marine & Land, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, has been awarded a $58 million contract modification by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) to manufacture 82 additional Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) variants for the M1200 Armored Knight.

The M1200 Armored Knight is an ASV variant equipped with a sensor package that is used to locate and designate targets for indirect fire and laser guided weapons. The Armored Knight is the only system in production with target accuracy equivalent to the delivery accuracies of today's precision-guided munitions, such as JDAM and Excalibur. The specially configured ASV is used by Field Artillery Combat Observation and Lasing Teams (COLT) to carry out its missions.

Tom Walmsley, general manager, Textron Marine & Land said, "We're excited to be awarded this contract to manufacture additional ASVs for the M1200 Armored Knight and provide even more protection to our soldiers. This additional variant of the ASV truly shows the versatility of this product. We're proud of the field record of the Armored Knight variant, and the ASV."

The ASV is a light, agile wheeled combat vehicle with 360 degree armor protection against small arms fire that can withstand anti-tank land mines under any wheel and artillery burst fragments overhead.

The ASV vehicle will be provided to DRS Technologies, the prime contractor for the Armored Knight responsible for the integration of the sensor and Mission Equipment Package. The total requirement for the program has been listed at 531 vehicles. In 2007, 19 vehicles were delivered to the customer and it is currently anticipated that 83 will be delivered in 2008 with the remainder to follow in 2009 and beyond.

The ASV is a 4X4 wheeled armored vehicle that offers significant crew protection through the employment of multiple layers of armor that provides defense against small arms fire, artillery projectile fragments, and land mines. This advanced armor is exceedingly lightweight and, along with its dimensions, allows the vehicle to be able to "roll-on/roll-off" C-130 military transport aircraft. The ASV possesses superior mobility, agility, handling, and ride quality through the utilization of a four-wheel independent suspension system. Textron Marine & Land has equipped the M1117 ASV with a specially designed dual-weapon station that, unlike many other vehicles, enables the crew to load, reload and clear gun jams under full armor protection.

With minor modifications and appropriate outfitting, ASV variants can perform a wide variety of missions including scout, infantry personnel carrier, reconnaissance, and command and recovery. Current missions of the ASV include operations with the Military Police, convoy protection, and Field Artillery Combat Observation and Lasing Teams (COLT). Its record of performance, reliability and survivability in the field is impeccable. More than 1000 ASVs have been deployed in the U.S. Army operations around the globe. Textron Marine & Land has built more than 1,300 vehicles to date.

Textron
25.03.2008