The
ambulances will be a modified version of Navistar's mine-resistant,
ambush-protected trucks MaxxPro, or MRAPs, already used
by the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. The heavily
armored trucks are designed to withstand blasts from roadside
land mines, the leading cause of U.S. casualties in the
Middle East conflicts. The ambulances will be outfitted
with an independent suspension system to make them maneuverable
in Afghanistan's rugged, mountainous terrain.
"Survivability
and mobility continue to be key capabilities" for
military trucks, said Archie Massicotte, president of
Navistar Defense, in a written statement. "Medics
face the same threats on the battlefield and we're proud
to provide them with a vehicle that offers both MRAP protection
and...off-road mobility."
The MRAP ambulances
feature a litter-assist system to allow medics to easily
move stretcher-bound patients into the vehicles. The ambulances
will be assembled at Navistar's West Point, Miss., plant
and the order is expected to be completed by the end of
September.
Illinois-based
Navistar has built more than 8,000 of the armored trucks
for the U.S. military since 2007. The company expects
sales of military trucks, parts and service to total about
$2 billion this year.
