United Defense Awarded $102.3M M88A2 Hercules Contract for Egypt
;YORK, Pa.---United Defense has been awarded a $102.3 million Foreign Military Sales hardware contract by the U.S. Army for the co-production of 50 M88A2 HERCULES Heavy Recovery Vehicles for the Arab Republic of Egypt. ;The contract provides for United Defense to supply hardware, kits and hull welding in the United States and for machining, welding and final assembly of the 50 vehicles in the Egyptian Tank Plant (ETP) in Cairo. The vehicles are for the Egyptian Land Forces. ;This contract follows earlier awards of $6.7 million in April 1998 for long lead funding and $12.9 million in September 1998 for Manufacturing Technical Assistance (MTA). Deliveries begin in April 1999 and continue through August 2001. ;"The M88A2 HERCULES is the world's most cost-effective recovery vehicle, capable of conducting solo recovery missions with today's 70-ton main battle tanks,'' said Vince Battistelli, United Defense's Director of Recovery and Engineer Programs. ;The M88A2 HERCULES makes it possible to safely recover M1 Abrams tanks and other tracked vehicles up to 70 tons. The M88A2 provides significant upgrades from the M88A1, including a 1050hp engine, a 35-ton boom, overlay armor and a 140,000-pound constant pull main winch. ;United Defense is now under contract to produce 171 HERCULES vehicles for the U.S. Army and allied forces. Through February, 80 vehicles have been produced, with 58 fielded to date. ;United Defense is the world's leading manufacturer and systems integrator of tracked, armored combat vehicles and is a leading supplier to the security forces of allied nations. United Defense operates nine manufacturing sites in seven states, participates in joint ventures and provides services to customers worldwide.
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United Defense Awarded $102.3M M88A2 Hercules Contract for Egypt