US Army installs 10 000th modernization kit on MMWV Humvees.

The U.S. Army has achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to enhance the safety and capabilities of its High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) fleet, Sam Tricomo, U.S. Army, reports. Recently, the Army's Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) celebrated the successful installation of the 10,000th anti-lock brake and electronic stability control (ABS/ESC) kit on these versatile vehicles.
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HMMWV ABS/ESC retrofits are currently underway at 16 sites, including 12 stateside locations, and four outside the Continental United States locations. Here, kits are installed at a Michigan Army National Guard installation site at Fort Custer, Mich. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

This momentous event took place in December 2023 at the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana, Texas. The installation of ABS/ESC kits not only improves the overall capability of the HMMWVs but also significantly reduces the risk of equipment damage. Importantly, this retrofitting effort plays a crucial role in mitigating the potential for serious injuries and loss of life.

The ABS/ESC retrofit program represents a depot-level modification work order that aims to address and minimize the risk of fatal rollover accidents involving HMMWVs. This initiative has garnered strong support from Congress due to its life-saving capabilities, prompting an accelerated retrofit of the enduring HMMWV fleet with this vital safety technology.

The responsibility for managing more than 105,000 light tactical vehicles currently in operation, including the HMMWVs, falls under the Joint Program Office Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, which is a part of PEO CS&CSS. It's worth noting that the U.S. military operates the largest fleet of its kind in the world.

While the Army achieved its desired HMMWV acquisition objective back in February 2011, the platform is designed for an overall economic useful life of 30 years through various means, including new production, divestiture, and sustainment of older models via depot retrofit programs.

Newly produced HMMWVs have incorporated the ABS/ESC capability since 2018, while the retrofit of the existing fleet commenced in 2021. Thanks to congressional funding allocated in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, along with innovative program management efforts, there has been a notable increase in the pace of installation over the past 18 months. The ABS/ESC retrofit activities are currently underway at 16 locations, including 12 within the United States and four outside the continental United States. Red River Army Depot oversees personnel at all these retrofit sites.

Ricardo Defense was granted a contract in March 2021 to manufacture up to 9,480 ABS/ESC kits. With the additional funding realized in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, a contract modification in August 2023 expanded the procurement ceiling to more than 53,000 total kits, enabling other branches of the U.S. armed services to also retrofit their respective fleets.

Brigadier General Samuel "Luke" Peterson, from PEO CS&CSS, expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts between the Light Tactical Vehicle product office, the Tank-automotive & Armaments Command, Red River Army Depot, and industry partners in ensuring the successful installation of these crucial ABS/ESC kits. The HMMWV, a versatile workhorse utilized by multiple services for nearly four decades, continues to support a variety of roles, including weapon systems, command-and-control systems, ambulatory systems, as well as ammunition, troop, and cargo transport.

Defense News January 2024