BAE Systems will continue to upgrade U.S. M88A1 recovery vehicle to standard M88A2.

BAE Systems has been awarded a $148.3 million contract by the U.S. Army to upgrade 43 M88A1 tracked armored recovery vehicles to standard M88A2 for added capability to evacuate damaged or stranded combat vehicles from the battlefield.

Students in the Regional Training Site (RTS)-Maintenance Tracked Vehicle Recovery Course prepare to hook an M88A1 Medium-Tracked Recovery Vehicle to another M88A1 during course operations July 19, 2018, at a training area on North Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

This continues the upgrade of the M88A1 to the M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift System (HERCULES) configuration to increase power, maneuverability and survivability to reach the Army’s acquisition objective of 933 M88A2 vehicles.

“The HERCULES is an invaluable vehicle for the Army’s recovery missions,” said Dennis Hancock, director of Recovery Programs at BAE Systems. “We are proud to support the Army’s recovery needs and we will continue to work alongside the Army to provide upgraded solutions as their missions and requirements change.”

The original M88 produced from 1960 to 1964 used the Continental AVSI-1790-6A gasoline engine rated at 980 HP at 2800 rpm, as well as a 10 HP gasoline auxiliary power unit. The M88A1 was powered by the Continental AVDS-1790-2DR Diesel engine and had a 10 HP Diesel auxiliary power unit.

The M88A1 and M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) are fully-tracked, heavy armored vehicles that can implement safe, reliable, swift, and effective combat evacuations through the battlefield recovery operations of towing, winching, and lifting.

The more capable M88A2 tows, hoists, and winches 70-ton tracked vehicles used by the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). The M88A2 increases horsepower and upgraded armor protection including armored track skirts and applique armor panels. The M88A2 can maneuver more quickly and get a 70 ton stranded vehicle – and its crew – to safety. The execution of this contract will increase the total procured quantity of the M88A2 capability to 914.

Work on the program will be performed at the BAE Systems’ facilities in York, Pennsylvania; Aiken, South Carolina; Anniston, Alabama and Sterling Heights, Michigan. Deliveries are to begin in February of 2021.

U.S. Army Cpl. Nathan A. Carballo observes the hoist of an M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lifting Extraction System during familiarization training at Mihail Koglaniceanu Air Base, Romania, March 16, 2019. (Picture source U.S. DoD)