OSHKOSH, WIS. (December 17, 2001) — Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NASDAQ: OTRKB] announced today that it has signed a contract to supply 92 Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) tractors and trailers for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD). This is Oshkosh’s first major defense contract in the United Kingdom. The initial production contract is valued at $75 million, with a potential of $95 million if all options are exercised. Tractor and trailer deliveries are scheduled during Oshkosh’s fiscal 2003 and 2004.
“We’re pleased to bring the combat-proven performance of our powerful HET to America’s long-time friends and allies in the United Kingdom. The HET will allow British forces to transport heavy military vehicles, such as battle tanks, across difficult terrain as they help protect freedom throughout the world,” said Robert G. Bohn, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Oshkosh Truck Corporation.
“The HET provides exceptional performance and versatility, while offering the customer excellent value. It is an example of how Oshkosh’s engineering and manufacturing expertise have created a vehicle uniquely suited to meet very specific customer needs,” continued Bohn.
Oshkosh signed the deal with FASTTRAX, a consortium led by Halliburton Brown & Root Ltd. In January 2001, the MoD selected FASTTRAX as the preferred bidder for a 20-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to transport the British Army’s heavy equipment. Information regarding Oshkosh’s selection for this contract was issued in January 2001. Under the contract, FASTTRAX will supply the Oshkosh HET system, including a European model of the combat-proven M1070 tractor and a technologically advanced trailer designed and built by King Trailers Limited of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, U.K. The matched components are designed to transport the British Army’s Challenger 2 tank and other heavy equipment.
The consortium will also provide tank and heavy equipment transportation service, drivers, logistics services and maintenance worldwide for the British Army.
The Oshkosh eight-wheel drive M1070 HET trucks bring massive payload and mobility to the military mission. Deployed with the U.S. Army for more than 15 years, more than 1,600 Oshkosh HETs have been fielded worldwide. The King Trailer seven-axle, hydraulic-suspension steering trailer is specifically designed to operate with the Oshkosh M1070 to carry battle tanks weighing up to 158,731 pounds (72 metric tons) or two lighter armored vehicles. This tractor-trailer combination was developed for U.K. MoD and other European requirements.
Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NASDAQ: OTRKB] is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the defense, fire and emergency, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Oshkosh is a Fortune 1000 company with products marketed under the Oshkosh, Pierce, McNeilus, Geesink, Norba and Medtec brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.45 billion in fiscal 2001.
For more information about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, log onto its web site at www.oshkoshtruck.com. # # #
