MDT Armor Corp., Auburn, Alabama, was awarded a $21,913,585 firm-fixed-price contract for the purchase of David Urban Light Armored Vehicles (ULAVs) with manufacturer furnished spare. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Auburn, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2023 Foreign Military Sales (Israel) funds in the combined amount of $21,913,585 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. The Israeli Defense Forces have actually used MDT vehicles external link for a couple of years.
The MDT David Light Armored Vehicle is a cost-effective, survivable, light protected all-terrain vehicle that seats four, six or eight crewmembers. The David has come under terror attacks ranging from rocks and stones to assault weapons and improvised devices. It has proven itself, saving lives of numerous operators, time and time again. Its armored capsule is mounted on a commercial Toyota Land Cruiser, Hilux or LandRover Defender pickup truck. Hundreds have been fielded, with daily combat activity. The David has been in service in combat conditions for over 10 years.
The light armored vehicles will replace the Jeep Ranger-derived Soufa (“Storm”) vehicles external link currently in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and will be complemented at the higher end by RAFAEL’s Wolf (“Ze’ev”) vehicles external link based on a Ford F550 truck with significant additional armoring and shaping. The David Light Armored Vehicle’s rear door is designed for fast dismounts away from the direction of incoming fire. As a final feature, the vehicles’ production in the USA allows Israel to use US military assistance funds rather than hard currency to finance their acquisition.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) version is built on top of a Land Rover Defender chassis, and a 122 bhp, 2.5L turbocharged diesel engine. Much shorter, lighter, and narrower than an up-armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) in order to negotiate narrow urban streets and alleys, the 3.7 ton David external link nonetheless carries 4-6 soldiers in full battle gear, with head room and gun ports in all 4 directions. Large rear doors and a tall cabin, meanwhile, allow fast exits. Their sides and roof are designed to resist small arms fire at point blank range.
