Navistar Defence LLC has been awarded a $26 million firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) to supply 6×6 transport and recovery trucks to Somalia, which will receive the medium tactical vehicles by the end of 2022. The contract is for two commercial MTV variants – the 6×6 General Transport Truck and the 6×6 Wrecker Vehicle Recovery Truck – and spare parts. The US Department of Defence on 25 November announced contract “for two commercial Medium Tactical Vehicle Variants — the 6×6 General Transport Truck and the 6×6 Wrecker Vehicle Recovery Truck, and spare parts.”
The International 7000-MV is a family of 6×6 medium tactical vehicles based on Navistar International’s WorkStar truck chassis and produced by Navistar Defense. All variants of the truck are powered by the same International MaxxForce D7.6 heavy-duty turbocharged diesel engine delivering up to 330 HP and 950 lb-ft of torque. The 7000-MV trucks are being used in Iraq and Afghanistan as a general troop transporter; wrecker; water tanker; petroleum, oil and lubricant vehicle; and hazardous material truck. International 7000-MV Recovery Vehicle is the recovery vehicle variant of the versatile 7000-MV platform. This rugged off-road truck is equipped with a crane for vehicle recovery and lifting heavy equipment.
The United States provides military aid to help Somalia fight off Islamist insurgents, but this was suspended in December 2017 after the Somali military was unable to account for food and fuel. The United States has been building up its military presence in Somalia since 2006. The build-up of US forces in Somalia has occurred as attacks against the Islamist group al-Shabab have increased significantly. Camp Baledogle is reportedly the site from which many of these attacks have been launched, alongside ad hoc facilities in Somalia and additional sites in Djibouti. Camp Baledogle is also used to train Somalia’s special forces.
