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The Bull advanced technology armored solution, conceived by
I-3 in 2005 and developed with Ceradyne in 2006, has been tested
by the Army Test Center, Aberdeen, Md., and demonstrated to
be capable of protecting vehicle occupants against Improvised
Explosive Devices (IED), Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFP)
and mine blast threats. It is designed to meet current IED threats,
and is intended to withstand the increasingly prevalent and
higher EFP threats now faced by the U.S. military. According
to the teaming agreement, the vehicles will be built on a combat-proven
Oshkosh Truck chassis.
With its main competitors, International Engines and Trucks
and Armor Holding's Stewart & Stevenson contracted to produce
hundreds of MRAPs, Oshkosh
was left behind with a relatively small involvement in one of
the Pentagon's largest acquisition programs in recent years.
Oshkosh received a production order for about 100 Alpha MRAPs,
and is also involved in the production and support of 60 Golan
vehicles, both built under cooperation with PVI. The new agreement
is promising Oshkosh a bigger share of what is considered now
to be the next phase of the MRAP program, which will involve
even larger production series of better protected vehicles.
Joel P. Moskowitz, chief executive officer for Ceradyne, said
that the proven chassis, combined with the Bull’s special
armor, will provide "a highly survivable mobile armored
vehicle that will serve our military well.” Even after
undergoing an attack, the Bull is expected to maintain substantial
off-road mobility, which makes it an ideal vehicle for multiple
uses in theater such as troop transport, ambulatory rescue and
cargo delivery. Oshkosh Truck, Ceradyne and I-3 are finalizing
plans for platform options and supply of critical components.
The three companies intend to offer platform options that improve
on current vehicle capabilities as solutions for the Department
of Defense in the near future.
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