The MMPV will be used in a variety of missions, including route and area clearance.

UK defence vehicle manufacturer, BAE Systems, has won a contract to supply the US Army with mine-protected vehicles, staving off competition from four other bidders.

The deal is potentially worth up to US$2.3 billion (£1.2 billion) for the supply of up to 2,500 bomb-disposal vehicles by 2015.

An initial $20m (£10.2m) order of nine vehicles, as well as armour testing packages and vehicle basic issue items, will be delivered between May and August this year.

The Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV) is a multi-purpose, mine protected, 6×6 wheeled vehicle based on BAE Systems’ next generation RG33 family of vehicles.

US Army engineers will use them to conduct route and area clearance missions, command and control, mount mine clearing systems, and conduct explosive hazards reconnaissance.
They will also be used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams to neutralise improvised explosive devices, mines and other unexploded ordnance.

Michael E. O’Connor, BAE Systems’ MMPV Program Manager, believes they are the best choice for their purpose. He said: “Our MMPV design is tailored specifically for the roles and missions of its users, and we believe it possesses the best balance of payload capacity, protection and performance.”

The new contract follows BAE Systems’ June 2007 takeover of US armoured vehicle maker Armor Holdings. The deal, which was worth $4.1b (£2.1b), made BAE the world’s leading armoured vehicle business.

By Natasha Piscitelli