Leonardo DRS Sustainment Systems Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a $9,756,178 modification to contract W56HZV-16-C-0028 to exercise seven Joint JAB (Joint Assault Bridge) in Option Period Four of the contract. Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, with an estimated completion date of May 11, 2024. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $9,756,178 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
The M1074 Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) is an armored military engineering vehicle based on the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank. The M1074 was designed by Leonardo DRS Technologies to provide deployable bridge capability for units engaged in military operations. The bridge is an Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB) Military Load Class 95 Scissor Bridge (MLC95). After the M1074 has deployed the bridge, assault force vehicles can cross over the bridge. The M1074 can cross over, pick up the bridge on the far bank and continue along in support of assault forces.
The JAB is based on the hull of the M1A1 version of the M1 Abrams main battle tank using the suspension system from the M1A2 and upgraded with the Total InterGrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER). The unit has a new hydraulic bridge launcher system as well as Embedded Diagnostics (ED). Survivability is enhanced with components of the Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) including Abrams Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT1), Rear Viewer Sensor System (RVSS) and Tank-Infantry Phone (TIP). Additionally it can employ the AUTOFLUG Driver’s Seat and Abrams Lightweight Underbody Kit for situational use
Leonardo DRS was awarded a production contract in May 2016 for up to 273 JAB systems plus related testing and support, and is partnered with Anniston Army Depot and Israel Military Industries (IMI). The Bridge Launcher Mechanism (BLM) was designed by Israel Military Industries in conjunction with Leonardo DRS. The bridging controls are a basic push-button system, similar to the M104 Wolverine, while the computer assembles the bridge and deploys it. The bridge extends its span vertically instead of horizontally as the M104 Wolverine. It can deploy an MLC95 bridge with a gap crossing of 11 meters in approximately 3 minutes.
