BIDEC 2019: Mack Defense solutions of tactical trucks for military forces


American Company Mack Defense presents its full range of military tactical trucks at BIDEC 2019, Bahrain International Defense Exhibition in Manama. Mack Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mack Trucks and part of the Volvo Group, is responsible for the sale of heavy-duty trucks to federal and ministerial-level customers globally.


Mack Defense solutions of tactical trucks for military forces BIDEC 2019 925 001
Mack Defense M917A3 HDT Heavy Dump Truck. (Picture source Mack Defense)


Mack Trucks has a long and storied tradition of supporting military forces throughout the world, including providing more than 35,000 trucks to support the Allied war efforts during World Wars I and II.

Mack Defense offers a full range of premium products and global support through multiple U.S. buying contracts as well as through direct commercial sales and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.

In June of 2015, Mack Defense was awarded two contracts by the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada on behalf of the Department of National Defense to deliver more than 1,500 8x8 trucks for the Medium Support Vehicle System (MSVS) Standard Military Pattern (SMP) program and to provide an initial five years of In-Service Support (ISS) for the SMP fleet operating in Canada and throughout the world. Mack Defense will also provide 300 trailers and 150 Armor Protection Systems as part of the two contracts valued at $725 million CAD. Delivery will start in 2017 and continue until 2020. The vehicle systems will include multiple variants such as cargo, material handling cranes, load handling systems (LHS), and mobile repair trucks (MRT).

Along with the Canadian award and Federal Government Sales, Mack Defense has numerous Foreign Military Sales contracts to support U.S. allies on a worldwide basis. Mack Defense has provided heavy haul tractors and 35-ton trailers primarily for Iraq, Afghanistan, and customers in Africa and continues to provide water and fuel trucks to Iraq, Afghanistan, and customers in Africa.

In May 2018, Mack Defense has a won contract for the U.S. Army for the M917 HDT program. In June 2019, Mack Defense celebrated the official handover of the first five Mack® Granite® model-based M917A3 heavy dump trucks (HDT) to the U.S. Army during a ceremony at the Mack Customer Center.

The Mack Defense M917A3 HDT is based on the civilian Mack Granite model, one of the top-selling construction trucks in North America. To meet the demanding needs of the U.S. Army, Mack Defense engineers added heavier-duty rear axles, all wheel drive and increased suspension ride height.