Leonardo DRS, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a contract to build additional advanced Joint Assault Bridge systems for the U.S. Army and the Romanian military (through a Foreign Military Sales agreement). Under the contract, the award is worth more than $49 million. The Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) is a next-generation track-wheeled armored engineer vehicle built on a modified M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank chassis. It is designed to deliver assault-bridging capabilities and provide freedom of maneuver to U.S and allied armored forces. The Joint Assault Bridge system is an example of DRS’s deep experience as a leading integrator supporting a wide range of missions for the U.S. military and allies around the world. The company’s integration capability extends across all domains to support force protection, computer networking and C5I, as well as naval power and propulsion systems.
“We are proud to continue to deliver this robust and reliable system to the U.S. Army and allied militaries to ensure armored vehicles can better navigate complex battlefield conditions,” said Aaron Hankins, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems business unit. “In partnership with the U.S. Army, we have successfully delivered more than 100 of these next-generation Joint Assault Bridge systems. JAB is a force multiplier and provides warfighters with advanced infrared vision technology, rapid assault launch and retrieve capability and superior mobility.”
The Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) provides Mobility Augmentation Companies supporting Armored Brigade Combat Teams with a survivable, deployable and sustainable heavy-assault-bridging capability. The JAB provides gap-crossing capability to cross wet or dry gaps, and freedom of maneuver on the battlefield to keep pace with Abrams Heavy Brigade Combat Team operations. The JAB is an M1A1 Abrams tank hull with heavy (M1A2) suspension integrated with a hydraulic bridge launcher system to launch the existing Military Load Class 85 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB). 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. The vehicle itself is unarmed; however, the crewmembers are typically armed with assault rifles (M16 or M4), pistols, flares, and/or colored smoke grenades.
Leonardo DRS, formerly DRS Technologies, Inc., is a US-based defense contractor. Previously traded on the NYSE, the company was purchased by the Italian firm Finmeccanica (now Leonardo S.p.A.) in October 2008. Headquartered in Arlington, VA, Leonardo DRS, Inc. is an innovative and agile provider of advanced defense technology to U.S. national security customers and allies around the world. The company specialize in the design, development and manufacture of advanced sensing, network computing, force protection, and electric power and propulsion, and other leading mission-critical technologies. DRS was acquired by the Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica S.p.A. (now Leonardo S.p.A.) in 2008. In 2012, former United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, William J. Lynn III was appointed CEO of Finmeccanica North America DRS, replacing Mark Newman, who held the position since 1994.
