MRAP contracts

has received six contracts worth $115m (£76.2m) from the

for replacement parts for Caiman Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.

The order, which includes complete engines, transmissions, axles and self-recovery winches, fulfils urgent requirements for spare parts to maintain approximately 1,650 Caiman MRAP vehicles operating in Iraq.

According to BAE Systems, replacement parts are ordered and received from the original equipment manufacturers who supply parts for the Caiman production line vehicles.

The completed engines are comprised of the Caterpillar engine, which has accessory parts installed at BAE Systems’ facility in Sealy, Texas.

BAE Systems then preserves, marks and packages the parts to military specifications before shipping to Red River Army Depot (RRAD) in Texarkana, Texas.

RRAD sends the parts to Iraq to fill MRAP repair part orders from different army units.

Work filling the contract orders will be completed by August 2009.

Shane Burns, Caiman project manager at BAE Systems, said: 'This work ensures the proper sustainment parts are included to keep the vehicles operating,

‘The Caiman has a 95 per cent operational readiness rate and these items are helping to maintain that rate now and improve it.

'Every item on this contract, with the exception of the rear axle, is currently needed in Iraq.’