The order will be filled by Force Protection Industries, BAE Systems, Armor Holdings and BAE, and International Military and Government, a subsidary of Navistar International, the Defense Department said in a statement.

"The goal was 1,500 plus in theater by the end of the year, and there will be 1,500 plus in theater by the end of the year," said spokesman Geoff Morrell.

The new order for 3,126 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles will boost the total number purchased by the Pentagon for delivery by mid-2008 to almost 12,000.

Some 1,300 MRAP are currently deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, Morrell added.

In September the Pentagon estimated that it needed some 15,000 armored vehicles specially designed to withstand mines, particularly in Iraq.

Morrell said the Army was constantly re-evaluating its needs, and could decide to scale back its order given the partial troop withdrawal from Iraq.

The vehicles are designed to ensure that the force of the explosion from hidden landmines is diverted to the outside of the vehicle and away from the troops on the inside.

The order will be split between the Illinois-based International Military and Government which has won the lion's share with an order for 1,500 MRAP. The rest will be built by Force Protection Industries, some 358 MRAPs; the US arm of the British defense manufacturers BAE Systems with 600 MRAPs, and Armor Holding and BAE with 668 vehicles.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 20 Aralık 2007, 16:50