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2014-06-01

OSHKOSH Expands A Life-Saving Platform

By: Sakha Pramod

In an exclusive interview, SERGE BUCHAKJIAN, Senior Vice President and General Manager, International Programs at Oshkosh Defense outlines the flexibility of the battle-hardened MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and how it meets demands of armed forces across the globe in countless situations

Oshkosh displayed at SOFEX one of your M-ATV variants - what is special about it?

What makes the M-ATV program special is its flexibility with an array of vehicle configurations to meet every mission profile. Whether a fleet is small and narrowly focused or large and broad, it can be equipped with the M-ATV variants required for its unique needs while still benefitting from a common platform and interchangeable parts.

All M-ATVs deliver industry gold standard off-road performance and feature common components, such as the Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system, and offer integrated cab crew protection. Collectively, the family meets a wider range of protection, performance, payload and transportability requirements for peacekeeping, internal security, border security, special forces, counterinsurgency and conventional military operations. The new M-ATV variants expand on a life-saving platform to address a more diverse mix of mission profiles and specialized functionality, threat levels and cost targets so troops get the vehicle that’s right for their specific needs.

Would it be correct to say that the new M-ATV is designed to meet a diverse range of mission requirements and needs for armed forces in the Middle East North Africa region as well as around the world?

The Oshkosh M-ATV stands alone as the battle-tested, highly mobile MRAP of choice for a full range of missions and can subsequently meet the demands of armed forces all over the world.

The M-ATV has been in service with US forces since 2009 to meet an urgent need for a lighter, more mobile MRAP vehicle. The global M-ATV family of vehicles is configured to perform in various mission profile in a standard or extended wheel base.

In Afghanistan in particular, we worked with the US Government in rapid fashion to design and deliver our M-ATV to special forces who needed to retain their traditional agile and nimble capabilities yet also required a higher level of protection against threats like IEDs. That’s a key lesson that has emerged with the M-ATV program – where the benefits of mobility carry over into protection because you have the ability to redefine what your ground fleets are capable of and you can take the mission off-road when a threat emerges or a mission changes.

What are the differences between the M-ATV Standard and M-ATV Extended?

The expanded global M-ATV family of vehicles includes two multi-mission models – the M-ATV Standard and M-ATV Extended, each with multiple variants. The M-ATV Standard is designed to provide response and support capabilities for a range of offensive and defensive missions in off-road environments. The M-ATV Extended delivers increased capacity for additional troops and equipment to support a wider assortment of mission profiles such as mounted infantry support, explosive ordnance support and command-and-control.

Designed with the speed, protection and mobility forces require, M-ATV Extended Wheel Base variants are reliable vehicles that perform and save lives in predominantly off-road missions.The M-ATV Extended Wheel Base variants combine advanced battle-tested technologies with the payload capacity, side slope stability and protection necessary to deploy and support forces on the battlefield. They also offer greater capacity and essential capabilities for operations ranging from target acquisition and screening to threat mitigation and surveillance.

Overall, the new variants expand on this life-saving platform to address a more diverse mix of mission profiles and specialized functionality, threat levels and cost targets, so troops get the vehicle that’s right for their specific needs.

Other than conventional military operations how are M-ATVs suited for peacekeeping, internal security, border security, special forces and counterinsurgency engagements?

The M-ATV Standard variants navigate off-road terrain with proven mobility and advanced crew protection systems. Demonstrating varied mission capabilities including offensive and defensive operations, surveillance and target acquisition, as well as ambush and explosives protection, the M-ATV Standard variants are agile vehicles for response and support on the battlefield. M-ATV Standard variants offer forces advanced battle-testedtechnologies with mission-critical performance, durability and mobility.

As previously mentioned, all M-ATVs deliver industry gold standard off-road performance and feature common components, such as the Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system, and offer integrated cab crew protection. Collectively, the family meets a wide range of protection, performance, payload and transportability requirements.

How efficient are your sustainment services considering that it is a highly sophisticated vehicle?

Oshkosh Defense’s systems integration processes and expertise allow command, control, communications and computer - C4 - equipment for the M-ATV to be integrated during the vehicle design stage. Our ‘first-pass’ approach helps optimize ergonomics, reduce system interference and minimize costs. Oshkosh also offers a full range of sustainment services through its Integrated Product Support (IPS) group to support everything from M-ATV training and technical manuals to maintenance and parts support.

We stand behind our vehicles with complete life cycle support and services. Our global logistics system spans six continents with the proven capability to support operations during peacetime and conflicts. Wherever the mission leads, our global team is trained to deliver comprehensive services to support overall vehicle performance, sustain fleet readiness and optimize life cycle cost. Including proactive and routine maintenance, operation and maintenance training courses with our C4 and systems integration capabilities, we ensure our vehicles operate at top performance levels and are ready for mission.

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