Textron
Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS), an operating unit of Textron Systems,
a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced a $5.5 million contract
award from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM)
to provide 12 armored turrets, technical support services, vehicle repairs
and spare parts for the Colombian Army's (COLAR) Armored Personnel Carriers
(APC). The COLAR has 39 COMMANDO™ Advanced APCs in operation with
its Armored Cavalry units and, under a separate U.S. Foreign Military
Sales case, has requested to purchase additional APCs.
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fielding its APCs in May 2010, the COLAR has employed them extensively
while combating internal revolutionary forces in Colombia. These vehicles
have provided the mobility, protection and firepower needed to meet all
COLAR tactical armored vehicle requirements.
TM&LS' APC is an extended version of the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle
(ASV), combat proven over 10 years and used by the U.S. Army and other
militaries in locations including Afghanistan and Iraq. The APC's additional
two feet in length and six inches in internal height allow greater troop
carrying capacity in areas of operations. These vehicles are part of the
COMMANDO™ Advanced line of armored vehicles, which offer excellent
on-road and off-road mobility enabling them to operate in urban, jungle,
desert and mountainous terrain. Crew protection is reinforced with a V-shaped
hull bottom and 360-degree protection from direct fire.
"This contract is an extension of our positive working relationship
with the Colombian Ministry of Defence and Army leadership, and an example
of our capability as a full-spectrum armored vehicle provider," said
Textron Marine & Land Systems Senior Vice President and General Manager
Tom Walmsley.
"Colombia's APCs are performing exceptionally well in a variety of
operational roles, while offering outstanding protection to COLAR soldiers.
Building on this success, we're working with Colombia to increase the
number of APCs in COLAR units while sustaining its entire vehicle fleet
with a coordinated program of maintenance, training and field service
support," Walmsley added.
Rigorously tested and proven in the toughest environments, the COMMANDO
family of vehicles offers a range of protection options, unmatched on-road/off-road
mobility and ample firepower. TM&LS produces four lines of COMMANDO
four-wheeled vehicles - COMMANDO Utility, COMMANDO Advanced, COMMANDO
Select and COMMANDO Elite.
As an end-to-end armored vehicle provider, TM&LS also offers its customers
COMMANDO fielding, training, maintenance and logistics support throughout
each vehicle's life cycle.
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