OSHKOSH, WIS. (November 1, 2004) – Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], a leading manufacturer of trucks and truck bodies, has announced that in October the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) awarded the company a contract to help develop advanced technology for use in future generations of military vehicles. The technologies are being designed to be integrated into the Army’s next generation of logistics support vehicles dubbed the Future Tactical Truck System Maneuver Sustainment Vehicle (MSV).
Oshkosh Truck has a well-known reputation for innovation in tactical military vehicles. Some of the recent developments at Oshkosh include TAK-4® independent suspension, Command Zone® electronics and ProPulse® hybrid electric drive. In addition, Oshkosh has recently fielded specially designed military vehicles such as the HET 1070F Heavy Equipment Transporter and a wheeled tanker developed specifically with special off-road capabilities. The U.S. Army has chosen only two companies to assist in the development of their next generation MSV, and the Wisconsin-based truck manufacturer is proud to have been chosen as one of them. “We are always striving to provide our customers with the optimum solution to their vehicle requirements. This opportunity will allow us to showcase the abilities of our products as well as the innovative spirit behind our product development capabilities here at Oshkosh Truck,” said John Stoddart, executive vice president and president of Oshkosh Defense.
The U.S. Army will be relying extensively on the world-class modeling and simulation capabilities at the disposal of Oshkosh Truck for the initial phase of this development. Once the capabilities of this generation of future vehicles are proven through simulation to the satisfaction of the Army, manufacturers will be asked to produce demonstration vehicles which incorporate the technological and operational improvements designed during the first phase. In addition to simulation and models, Oshkosh Defense will also be drawing heavily on real-world lessons gained from ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This approach by Oshkosh Truck will not only help to develop an affordable solution for the Army’s next generation of logistics vehicles, but will also ensure future trucks meet the needs of those soldiers tasked with accomplishing the mission on a day to day basis.
Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK] is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the defense, fire and emergency, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Oshkosh Truck is a Fortune 1000 company with products marketed under the Oshkosh®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Geesink and Norba brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.9 billion in fiscal 2003. To learn more about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, visit its web site at www.oshkoshtruckcorporation.com
