OSHKOSH, Wis. (Oct. 3, 2011) – Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has launched its next-generation Oshkosh TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system to redefine ride quality, mobility and maneuverability standards for off-road military vehicles. The system’s design leverages 10 years of operational experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the proven success of the Oshkosh TAK-4® independent suspension system, which has been used on more than 20,000 military vehicles to date.
“The Oshkosh TAK-4 system has brought unparalleled mobility to the battlefield on medium, heavy and MRAP vehicles,” said Rob Messina, vice president of Defense Engineering for Oshkosh Defense. “Our engineers have taken mobility performance one step further with the TAK-4i to give troops a critical advantage in maneuverability, speed and durability as they navigate the off-road terrain that dominates today’s battlefields.”
Oshkosh developed the TAK-4i intelligent independent suspension system after studying military vehicles in action and calculating requirements for optimal speed, mobility and reliability on the battlefield. The TAK-4i system, which has completed more than 50,000 test miles with exceptional reliability, is scalable for use on light, medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles. With TAK-4i, a vehicle’s height can be adjusted to maximize transportability and reduce the time and effort it takes to field vehicles.
The TAK-4i system delivers 20 inches of independent wheel travel, which is 25 percent more than other vehicles fielded with the U.S. military, for new levels of off-road mobility. Improved shock absorption results in increased speed and significantly better ride quality for Warfighters who often travel off-road for hours at a time. The TAK-4i system is used on the Oshkosh Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (L-ATV) and the Oshkosh Light Combat Tactical Vehicle (LCTV), which are designed to deliver the protected mobility needed on remote, rugged and hostile landscapes.
Oshkosh vehicles including the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), Palletized Load System (PLS) A1, Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) and Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) use the Oshkosh TAK-4 independent suspension system and have delivered proven off-road mobility in Iraq, Afghanistan and other challenging landscapes around the world. Oshkosh was also selected by the U.S. military to retrofit its TAK-4 system on MRAP vehicles produced by other manufacturers to deliver urgently needed off-road performance.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection. For more information, visit oshkoshdefense.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation
Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corporation manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, visit www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, TM All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that the Company believes to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “project” or “plan” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the expected level and timing of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) procurement of products and services and funding thereof; risks related to reductions in government expenditures in light of U.S. defense budget pressures and an uncertain DoD tactical wheeled vehicle strategy; the cyclical nature of the Company’s access equipment, commercial and fire & emergency markets, especially during periods of global economic weakness, tight credit markets and lower municipal spending; the Company’s ability to produce vehicles under the FMTV contract at targeted margins; the duration of the ongoing global economic weakness, which could lead to additional impairment charges related to many of the Company’s intangible assets and/or a slower recovery in the Company’s cyclical businesses than equity market expectations; the impact on revenues and margins of the decrease in M-ATV production rates; the potential for the U.S. government to competitively bid the Company’s Army and Marine Corps contracts; risks related to work stoppages and other labor matters, especially in light of the pending contract expiration for union employees at the Company’s Oshkosh defense facilities; the consequences of financial leverage, which could limit the Company’s ability to pursue various opportunities; increasing commodity and other raw material costs, particularly in a sustained economic recovery; the ability to pass on to customers price increases to offset higher input costs; risks related to costs and charges as a result of facilities consolidation and alignment, including that anticipated cost savings may not be achieved; risks related to the collectability of receivables, particularly for those businesses with exposure to construction markets; the cost of any warranty campaigns related to the Company’s products; risks related to production delays arising from supplier quality or production issues; risks associated with international operations and sales, including foreign currency fluctuations and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; the potential for disruptions or cost overruns in the Company’s global enterprise resource planning system implementation; the potential for increased costs relating to compliance with changes in laws and regulations; risks related to disruptions in the Company’s distribution networks; and the Company’s ability to successfully execute on its strategic road map and meet its long-term financial goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update information contained in this press release. Investors should be aware that the Company may not update such information until the Company’s next quarterly earnings conference call, if at all.
