Textron to provide 55 new armored vehicles to Afghan National Army

Textron Marine & Land Systems, part of the Textron Inc. family of defense industry businesses, will supply 55 new COMMANDO Select four-wheeled armored vehicles to the Afghan National Army (ANA); the $56.2 million firm-fixed-price contract comes from the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Warren, Michigan, and it is reported that the Afghan Army is purchasing the vehicles through the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.

Work on the order will be performed in Slidell, Louisiana. The vehicles will start being delivered in October with the full order completed by Feb. 2016.

The order of COMMANDO Select vehicles for the Afghan Army will be configured in three variants -- 36 are to be equipped with Objective Gunner Protection Kits, 15 with enclosed 40mm/.50 caliber turrets and another four fitted out as ambulance vehicles.

The armored vehicles will be deployed in support of security operations throughout the country with more than 630 of these vehicles coming into Afghan Army service since 2012.

"Since being put into service by Afghan National Army Kandaks (battalions) several years ago, ANA soldiers have experienced the exceptional mobility, survivability and overall performance these vehicles are known for," Tom Walmsley, general manager of Textron's Marine & Land Systems, said. "This additional supply of vehicles will support Kandaks currently operating MSFVs, so that existing ANA vehicle inventory can be rotated in for regular service and maintenance work."