Originally posted by Kippari

Lockheed Martin and Patria Join Forces for Marine Personnel Carrier Offering

Thursday, October 18, 2007|PRNewswire

Lockheed Martin and Patria have teamed to compete for the U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC). The MPC will be the Marines' next generation medium armored vehicle. The service is expected to release a request for proposals during the second quarter of 2008.

Under the agreement between the two companies, Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY will act as prime contractor for the MPC effort, providing systems integration, survivability enhancements, U.S. production and net-centric and logistics capabilities for Patria's proven AMV 8x8 multi-role vehicle.

"The Lockheed Martin/Patria team will offer the U.S. Marine Corps a superior personnel carrier that enhances force protection while still providing the mobility necessary to execute expeditionary missions," said Lou DeSantis, vice president and general manager of Systems Solutions at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego. "Our MPC is a combat-proven solution that supports the Marine Corps' current mission with room for future capability enhancement."

The Lockheed Martin/Patria MPC will meet the U.S. Marine Corps' anticipated performance, protection and payload requirements as a versatile armored personnel carrier. It will be optimized for unconventional warfare, but effective across the full range of military operations. The MPC is designed to fill the medium-armor ground vehicle gap, while also providing capability to "swim" through water.

"This teaming agreement with Lockheed Martin is in step with Patria's strategy to team up with strong partners with whom it offers competitive tailor made solutions to customers," said Jorma Wiitakorpi, CEO and President of Patria. "The Patria AMV 8x8 is a combat proven solution fielded internationally and receiving great feedback from users in theaters of operations."

Lockheed Martin's previous experience with military vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps include the Light Armored Vehicle Command and Control (LAV-C2) and Lightweight Prime Mover.

The Patria AMV 8x8 multi-role vehicle was launched in 2001, with the first vehicles delivered to the Polish army in 2004 as the serial production started. The advanced modular vehicle is already the choice of the Polish, Finnish, Slovenian, South African and Croatian armies. It has also participated in tough field tests in a number of Arab, Asian and South American countries, with excellent results.

Patria is an international defense and aerospace group. Its key business areas include armored wheeled vehicles, mortar systems and ammunition as well as their life cycle support. Patria is owned by the State of Finland and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS.

Source: http://www.pcb007.com/anm/templates/...08&zoneid=68&v=

...and another interesting info:

Appreciating Rosomak advantages the Americans wrote to us inquiring about possibility of leasing Polish battle vehicles manufactured in Siemianowice - stated Janusz Walczak, a spokesman for Bumar.

Source: http://www.redakcjawojskowa.pl/gazet...8451&Itemid=46

Translated by MZ

Thanks for the info but please capitalize Marines in the title. Thanks.

At least he didn't say Army. Or "Soldiers in the Marines."

Originally Posted by implicature

Thanks for the info but please capitalize Marines in the title. Thanks.

Ups my bad - now its up to the Mods to correct this.

More news:

Patria's AMV for USMC's MPC?

The Finnish firm Patria Oyj has made quite a name for itself in the field of wheeled Armored Personnel Carriers, via its popular Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV). Patria has won several international competitions a large 690-vehicle contract in Poland, 84 AMV orders so far from Finland that include 24 breech-loading 120mm AMOS twin-mortar variants, plus recent order from Slovenia (135 vehicles in 4 different versions, including one variant with Patria's new unmanned NEMO 120mm mortar turret), and a Croatian order for 84 vehicles. Its high level of protection from mine blasts got it certified by South African authorities, and it was subsequently made the base platform for South Africa's "Hoefyster" program to field 264 next-generation infantry fighting vehicles in 5 variants (Infantry Carrier, Command, Mortar, Missile, and Fire Support).

In the second quarter of 2008, the US Marine Corps is expected to issue an RFP to begin replacing its aging LAV amphibious wheeled armored personnel carriers. When they do, they will be hearing from a somewhat unusual competitor. Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY will act as prime contractor for a bid, providing systems integration, survivability enhancements, U.S. production, communications systems integration (which Lockheed handled for the LAV-C2 variant), and support. Their partner, Patria Oyj, will supply their amphibious Armoured Modular Vehicle 8×8 APC, and the partnership may also clear the way for options like Patria's Nemo and AMOS mortar turrets to replace vehicles like the LAV-M.

If recent international experience is any guide, the Lockheed Martin/Patria partnership will face General Dynamics' improved LAVs, and possibly its GD Steyr Pandur wheeled APCs as well.

Source: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...mcs-mpc-04062/