$180 million ILAV contract

BAE Systems has received a $180 million Foreign Military Sales contract to manufacture 378 Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles from the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.

BAE Systems, as prime contractor, along with subcontractors Force Protection, based in Ladson, South Carolina, and Spartan Chassis, headquartered in Charlotte, Michigan, will manufacture, test and provide logistics support for wheeled Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles.

The 4x4 Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles are similar to the Cougar armoured vehicles, and include a V-shaped hull designed to deflect the force of explosions away from passengers.

The total value of the Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity contract could reach $445.4 million and 1,050 vehicles, if all options are exercised.

Work on the contract will begin immediately with deliveries scheduled to continue through to May 2007.