Spartan Chassis Announces Multiple Orders for Mine-Protected Variant Vehicles
September 29 2008 - 11:05AM
PR Newswire (US)
Now Supplying More Than 20 Threat-Specific Variants for U.S. and
Allies CHARLOTTE, Mich., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spartan
Chassis, a unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAR), said it has
received multiple, small specialized orders for new MRAP variant
products, an indication of the possibilities for the highly
successful mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle program.
Spartan said it is now supplying more than 20 threat-specific
variants of mine-protected vehicles for the U.S. military and a
growing number of allied militaries, including those of Great
Britain, Italy, Canada, Iraq and Yemen. These mine-protected
variants of MRAPs -- which include ordnance disposal, ground
ambulance, recovery vehicles and specially outfitted vehicles for
Special Forces units -- are enabling troops to perform a far
greater range of activities while benefiting from the unique
life-saving attributes of the V-shaped, blast-protected hull.
"Unfortunately, improvised explosive devices -- IEDs -- continue to
increase in popularity as a weapon of choice, and the data
indicates growing use worldwide," said John Sztykiel, president and
CEO of Spartan Motors. "Faced with this threat, the U.S. military
is increasingly drawing on our team's expertise and that of our OEM
partners to produce threat-specific, even one-off MRAP variants.
These vehicles must perform specialized, mission-critical tasks
such as supporting Special Forces operations, executing ordnance
removal and disposal or extracting injured soldiers in a
mine-protected ambulance configuration. It is an honor for Spartan
Chassis to be the go-to company in assisting with the rapid
creation and production of these threat-specific vehicles." Spartan
has become a leading, critical supplier of a broad array of
mine-protected vehicle models, including: -- MRAP and MRAP-Plus
vehicles, including Cougar and RG-33 -- Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle
(ILAV) for allied Iraqi Security Forces -- Yemen Light Armored
Vehicle (YLAV) for Yemeni Military -- Joint Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV) -- Mine Resistant Recovery
and Maintenance Vehicles (MRRMV) -- Heavy Armored Ground Ambulances
(HAGA) -- Special Operations Command vehicles (SOCOM) -- Mastiff
MRAP for the United Kingdom -- MRAP variants for Italy and Canada
-- TLAV -- Mine-protected training vehicle for the U.S. Navy and
the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defense Organization MRAP
vehicles are a family of heavily armored fighting vehicles
specially designed to survive deadly IED (improvised explosive
device) attacks, which have been responsible for 60 percent of all
U.S. casualties in Iraq, and are a growing problem in Afghanistan
and other hot spots of the global war on terror. The vehicles are
defined by their innovative, V-shaped hulls, which deflect
explosive forces originating below the vehicle -- a point of
weakness for non-MRAP military vehicles, such as Humvees. "As
mine-protected vehicles continue to evolve to meet emerging
threats, Spartan's expertise in rapid automotive engineering,
speed-to-market and custom production positions us to meet future
design reset requirements -- and sustain these variant programs
with parts and service in the field," added Sztykiel. "Product and
safety innovation are historical strengths of Spartan Chassis
stemming from our 30-year heritage protecting emergency-rescue
first responders, and we expect our capabilities to play an
important role in the success of the military's next generation of
tactical wheeled vehicles." Since 2005, Spartan has invested about
$16 million in facilities and equipment for military production.
Spartan has shared its military-related work with 100
Michigan-based companies, helping to employ 6,400 Michigan workers
and spending $148.4 million with these companies in 2007 alone.
About Spartan Chassis, Inc. Spartan Chassis, Inc., a subsidiary of
Spartan Motors, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAR), is a leading developer and
manufacturer of custom chassis for recreational vehicles, fire
trucks and specialty vehicles. Spartan Motors (
http://www.spartanmotors.com/ ) which also manufactures emergency
rescue vehicles under the brand names of Crimson Fire, Crimson Fire
Aerials and Road Rescue, reported sales of $681.9 million in 2007
and is focused on becoming the premier manufacturer of specialty
vehicles and chassis in North America. This release contains
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation,
statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and
the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements
involve certain risks and uncertainties that ultimately may not
prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical
complications may arise that could prevent the prompt
implementation of the plans outlined above. The company cautions
that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by
other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filing and other filings with
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at
http://www.sec.gov/ ). Government contracts and subcontracts
typically involve long payment and purchase cycles, competitive
bidding, qualification requirements, delays or changes in funding,
extensive specification development and changes, price negotiations
and milestone requirements. An announced award of a governmental
contract is not equivalent to a finalized executed contract and
does not assure that orders will be issued and filled. Government
agencies also often retain some portion of fees payable upon
completion of a project and collection of contract fees may be
delayed for long periods, which can negatively impact both prime
contractors and subcontractors. The company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this
release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by law. DATASOURCE: Spartan Chassis,
Inc. CONTACT: Jeff Lambert or Ryan McGrath, +1-616-233-0500, both
of Lambert, Edwards & Associates Web Site:
http://www.spartanmotors.com/
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