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US Military orders first M-ATV ambulances from Oshkosh Defense

7th December 2010 - 08:28 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, will provide the US Armed Forces with the first MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle tactical ambulances, giving military medics new capabilities for reaching injured military personnel in otherwise inaccessible battlefield environments. Oshkosh received an order for 250 of the armored, highly mobile ambulances from the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC).

"The addition of this vehicle to the US services' fleets will allow the military to provide urgent medical care in landscapes that are too rugged for other tactical ambulances," said Ken Juergens, vice president and general manager of Joint Programs for Oshkosh Defense. "We invested in the development of the M-ATV ambulance in response to the military's need for additional patient recovery and ground transport capabilities. This vehicle expands the military's M-ATV family of vehicles currently protecting troops and supporting operations in Afghanistan."

Oshkosh product-design teams worked closely with the US Army Medical Department (AMEDD) on the M-ATV tactical ambulance's design and interior layout. The vehicle can transport two litter patients in a side-by-side layout, and can be configured to carry up to four ambulatory patients. It will be equipped with military-grade ambulance equipment needed to care for patients, including oxygen concentrators, on-board power for medical equipment and IV stabilization equipment.

"The designs allows two patients to be simultaneously loaded very quickly into the M-ATV tactical ambulance, thus significantly reducing the time the medics and patients are exposed to enemy fire and other threats in combat situations," Juergens said.

Based on the M-ATV platform, the new tactical ambulance variant delivers the same proven mobility and MRAP-level protection for reaching military members in the field and transporting them safely back to medical facilities. Deliveries under this order are scheduled to begin in spring 2011. The contract award is for approximately $161 million.

The Oshkosh M-ATV was designed to provide superior off-road mobility for harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved road networks in places like Afghanistan. Oshkosh has received awards to date for nearly 8,400 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits, upgrade kits and aftermarket support. The tactical ambulance joins the M-ATV base and Special Forces Vehicle (SFV) family of vehicles used by the military.

Oshkosh is continuing to explore new potential mission solutions for the M-ATV. Oshkosh has designed the M-ATV utility vehicle to support resupply operations and the M-ATV Multi-Mission Vehicle (MMV) to support reconnaissance, missile-carrier and command-and-control operations in unforgiving landscapes.

Source: Oshkosh

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