Navistar Defense LLC, Madison Heights, Wisconsin, was awarded a $60,919,205 firm-fixed-price contract for refurbishment and upgrade of MaxxPro PLUS Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The International M1224 MaxxPro MRAP is an armored fighting vehicle designed by American company Navistar International’s subsidiary Navistar Defense along with the Israeli Plasan Sasa, who designed and manufactures the vehicle’s armor. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in West Point, Mississippi, with an estimated completion date of July 1, 2025. Fiscal 2024 Foreign Military Sales (United Arab Emirates) funds in the amount of $60,919,205 were obligated at the time of the award. US Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
The MaxxPro was designed to take part in the US Military’s MRAP programme, led by the US Marine Corps, as well as a similar US Army-led Medium Mine Protected Vehicle program. The vehicle uses International WorkStar 7000 truck chassis. Vehicle is powered by an International MaxxForce D9.3I6 diesel engine, developing 330 hp. Automotive parts of this armored vehicle are commercially available. First vehicles were delivered for testing in 2007. Over 6 000 of these mine protected vehicles were built and several thousands of these vehicles are currently in service with the US Military. These armored vehicles might eventually replace all active duty HMMWVs as the standard US Army vehicles in Iraq and other warzones. The MaxxPro has been exported to a number of countries. Largest operators are Jordan (100), Romania (60) and Hungary (42).
Mine Resistant Ambush Protecteds are categorized as category 1 or category 2, depending on usage and passenger compartment space, and Navistar produces the MaxxPro in both sizes, although the vast majority of those sold have been category 1 MRAPs. Vehicle utilizes a crew capsule and has a V-shaped hull, which do not extends to the engine bay. A V-shaped hull deflects the mine of IED blast away from the vehicle. During tests this MRAP vehicle survived a 7 kg land mine blast. Armor of the MaxxPro was designed and manufactured by the Israeli Plasan. Armored hull is bolted together rather than welded. Vehicle can be fitted with add-on armor. It also provides protection against direct fire and RPG rounds. The MaxxPro is fitted with NBC protection system. This armored vehicle can be fitted with a roof-mounted and shielded 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun.
In response to demands from the field, Navistar Defense modified the original MaxxPro MRAP to accommodate additional armoring and enhance performance. On 16 June 2008 Navistar debuted a new version called MaxxPro Plus. MaxxPro Plus has increased engine power and payload, as well as Frag Kit 6 enhancements for increased explosively formed penetrator protection. The MaxxPro Plus model comes with dual rear wheels for increased load carrying capacity, such as an ambulance or EFP protected variant. The latest model produced is the MaxxPro Dash, which is a smaller and lighter category 1 model. Both the Plus and Dash models use the MaxxForce 10 engine with 375 hp, in place of the DT 530 with 330 hp, used in the original base model produced.
