DRS Technologies awarded $400 Million US Army contract to build new Joint Assault Bridge system 52308167

Defence & Security News - DRS Technologies
 
 DRS Technologies awarded $400 Million US Army contract to build new Joint Assault Bridge system
DRS Technologies, Inc., a Leonardo-Finmeccanica company, announced today that the U.S. Army has awarded it a competitively-bid indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $400 million to build the new Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) system.
     
DRS Technologies awarded 400 Million US Army contract to build new Joint Assault Bridge system 640 001
 U.S. Army has awarded DRS Technologies a competitively-bid indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth up to $400 million to build the new Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) system (Photo US Army)
     
The JAB system is a track-wheeled vehicle built on a modified M1 Abrams platform. It is designed to carry, deploy and recover a heavy "scissor" bridge that provides gap-crossing capability for combat vehicles to cross wet or dry chasms. The system is an important tool for U.S. military ground forces, giving combat vehicles the ability to freely navigate the battlefield.

"The ability for combat vehicles to navigate easily on the battlefield is critical to the success of our armored vehicle warfighters," said Joe Matteoni, vice president and general manager, DRS Sustainment Systems. "This is an important program for our ground combat units, and DRS Technologies and Israel Military Industries Systems are proud to support our heavy armor combat teams by providing this technology to assist them in achieving their missions," he said.

DRS Technologies' Sustainment Systems business unit, based in St. Louis, MO., will be responsible for the overall production, management of the M1A1 chassis assembly, hydraulic bridge launcher production and the entire system integration. Production will occur in West Plains, Missouri, and Anniston, Alabama.

DRS has a public-private partnership with Anniston Army Depot for the management of the chassis assembly and worked with Israel Military Industries on the engineering and design of the JAB system.