Miss. facility gets $623M military deal

Miss. facility gets $623M military deal

	Published : Thu, 31 May 2007 20:33 By : Agencies Print this Story

WEST POINT, Miss. (AP) - International Truck and Engine Corp. has won a $623 million contract to build 1,200 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored vehicles in West Point for the Marine Corps, members of the Mississippi congressional delegation announced Thursday.

The deal will mean 350 jobs to the plant, which is a joint venture with Griffin Armament.

International is part of Navistar International of Warrenville, Ill.

U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said Thursday that the contract specifies delivery of the vehicles to the Marine Corps by February 2008.

The vehicles are designed to provide better protection against mines and incendiary explosive devices, which have caused the greatest number of casualties for U.S. troops in Iraq, Wicker said in a statement.

'International Truck has a proven record of building and delivering armored vehicles to protect American service personnel,' Wicker said. 'This contract reflects the confidence the Marine Corps has in International's expertise. It is also good news for West Point, where International employees will have a hand in providing the safest and most dependable armored vehicles in the world.'

U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, both R-Miss., joined in making the announcement.

The truck chassis will be built at the company's Garland, Texas, plant and then transferred to the military integration facility in West Point for final assembly.

International has already delivered more than 4,000 military vehicles over the past several years. An armored heavy haul tractor produced in West Point went to Iraq last year, and another vehicle is in service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

International also builds vehicles for U.S. allies, including Israel.

'I have worked with the Marine Corps to ensure this competition was a fair one which gave West Point's work force an opportunity to participate in this very important contract,' Lott said. 'Yet, more important than any economic impact, this contract will provide our troops with a vehicle that better resists the deadly explosive devices so often used by America's terrorist foes.'

Cochran said: This contract will help protect U.S. troops as well as provide our work force at home with good job opportunities.'

West Point has lost three manufacturing plants this year -- Sara Lee, Flexible Flyer and Best Textiles International -- and more than 1,300 jobs.