BAE Systems and Red River Army Depot Sign Memorandum for MRAP Program

Released on Wednesday, October 31, 2007

WASHINGTON - BAE Systems and Red River Army Depot (RRAD) signed a Memorandum of Intent for a partnership to support production of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles on October 9 during the Association of the U.S. Army's Annual Symposium and Exhibition in Washington, D.C.

The memorandum, which was signed by Col. Douglas J. Evans, Commander, RRAD and Matthew Riddle, Vice President of Wheeled Vehicle Programs for BAE Systems, states that RRAD and BAE Systems have agreed to enter into a Public Private Partnership for MRAP production and follow-on support.

"This memorandum highlights the importance of government/industry partnerships," said Evans. "They are designed to rapidly deliver lifesaving equipment to the warfighter." "Procurement of MRAP vehicles is the Department of Defense's top priority," said Riddle. "This agreement capitalizes on the strengths of both organizations in order to meet this most urgent need."

The agreement is intended to provide a foundation for expanding BAE Systems capabilities in partnership with RRAD and meet the emerging requirements for the MRAP program. It will allow a greater number of vehicles to be produced and ultimately to be fielded faster to America's troops.

BAE Systems is currently contracted to build three of the five MRAP variants, and now under contract to deliver 1,462 Category I vehicles and 1,176 Category II vehicles. More than 1,500 BAE Systems employees in the US and 400 in South Africa are producing vehicles with the support of suppliers in more than 30 states across the U.S.