BAE Systems receives $23 million contract for M113 Vehicles

BAE Systems has been awarded $23 million in various contract modifications for work on the Bradley and M113 vehicles. “The recent Bradley and M113 awards will help to ensure that these proven vehicles will continue supporting out troops for years to come,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team at BAE Systems. “Both platforms have a long history of effectively performing for our men and women in uniform during combat missions overseas and play key roles on the Heavy Brigade Combat Team.” This contract has a variety of work directives, including the installation of Bradley Urban Survivability Kits (BUSK) III, which include a series of rapid development survivability improvements specifically designed for today’s urban battlefield. Some of the new developments under BUSK III include: -- Emergency egress improvements to allow soldiers to lower the ramp on the vehicle; -- Advanced survivability seat to provide energy absorbing seats and foot rests; -- A turret advanced survivability system to provide enhanced protection against IEDs for the gunner and commander positions; Other work directives under this contract include Bradley field service support, and integration of the mission support system (MSS) for the M113A3 ambulance. This work demonstrates how BAE Systems' support and service capabilities are meeting the current and future requirements to protect troops during combat missions. Bradley Combat Systems continue to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in close-combat urban situation as well as in open-combat. The Bradley fulfills five critical mission roles – infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, battle command vehicle an engineer squad vehicle – for the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams. The M113 is part of the largest family of armored tracked vehicles in the world and includes more than 80,000 vehicles worldwide with 40 variants. It can transport 12 troops plus a driver and is capable of extended cross-country travel over rough terrain and high-speed operation on improved roads and highways.