OSHKOSH, WIS. (Dec. 5, 2003) – Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK] announced today that it has been selected by a Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Company team to supply HEMTT M983 tractors and engineering support for the Kinetic Energy Interceptors (KEI) Contract. Towing a trailer, the HEMTTs are used to position the KEIs in mission critical locations.
On December 3, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded a Northrop-Grumman-led team the prime contract for the KEI program to provide the United States with the ability to destroy hostile missiles at their most vulnerable stage, the boost-ascent phase of flight. The team is now moving forward with developing and testing this critical boost-phase element of the Agency’s global layered missile defense system.
John Stoddart, Oshkosh executive vice president and president of defense, said, “Oshkosh is proud to be part of this team and honored to be working on the frontline of national security. KEI is not only critical to our country’s developing Ballistic Missile Defense System, but will also serve as a visible, deployable deterrent. The HEMTT’s superior on- and off-road mobility serves to maximize this system’s deployability and land-based capability, allowing forces to position the KEIs wherever they are needed most.”
KEI will complement the other boost, midcourse and terminal defense interceptor programs currently under development while providing a land-based capability that can be adapted quickly and easily to sea-based platforms.
Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty commercial, fire and emergency and military trucks and truck bodies under the Oshkosh®, McNeilus®, Pierce®, Medtec®, Geesink and Norba brand names. Oshkosh’s products are valued worldwide by defense forces, fire and emergency units, municipal and airport support services, and concrete placement and refuse businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount.
For more information on Oshkosh Truck Corporation and its products, visit www.oshkoshtruck.com. For more information on Northrop Grumman and the KEI Program, visit www.northropgrumman.com, and for more details on Raytheon, visit www.raytheon.com
Contacts:
Oshkosh Truck Corporation
Kirsten Skyba
[email protected]
920.233.9621
Northrop Grumman
Marynoele Benson
[email protected]
703.741.7723
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