By Haley Hughes
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to upgrade military vehicles for a number of Army National Guard units with the Aiken plant performing some of the work.
BAE Systems announced this week it received a $306 million contract modification to upgrade 353 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which are designed to transport infantry with armored protection while providing fire cover.
This contract is in addition to $340 million in funding the company has received to purchase upgrade materials for the Bradley program, according to a press release.
"Under the Bradley contract, the Aiken facility will provide newly manufactured welded and machined components, including hatches, armor and various other components. Raw forgings or castings, sheet material and armor will be procured from suppliers and processed into finished goods at the Aiken facility," said Shannon Booker, communications manager for BAE Systems.
Unfortunately, Booker said, the contract modification will not result in the creation of additional jobs at the Aiken plant.
Currently, the Aiken plant employs 100 people.
The upgraded Bradleys will be provided to the Minnesota and Pennsylvania National Guard units. BAE Systems will also provide upgraded vehicles for Combined Armed Battalions to Kansas, South Carolina, and Ohio National Guard units.
The upgrades include digitized electronics for situational awareness, network connectivity and enhanced communication hardware.
"Our Bradley Fighting Vehicle has served alongside Army soldiers, helping them to accomplish their missions for more than two decades," said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. "The Bradleys we are producing today provide the National Guard with enhanced survivability and interoperability on today's digital battlefield. Our team continues to produce a quality product on time to meet the needs of the soldier."
The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, and work is anticipated to begin in August with final delivery expected in April 2014, according to BAE.![]()
BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to upgrade military vehicles for a number of Army National Guard units with the Aiken plant performing some of the work.
BAE Systems announced this week it received a $306 million contract modification to upgrade 353 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which are designed to transport infantry with armored protection while providing fire cover.
This contract is in addition to $340 million in funding the company has received to purchase upgrade materials for the Bradley program, according to a press release.
"Under the Bradley contract, the Aiken facility will provide newly manufactured welded and machined components, including hatches, armor and various other components. Raw forgings or castings, sheet material and armor will be procured from suppliers and processed into finished goods at the Aiken facility," said Shannon Booker, communications manager for BAE Systems.
Unfortunately, Booker said, the contract modification will not result in the creation of additional jobs at the Aiken plant.
Currently, the Aiken plant employs 100 people.
The upgraded Bradleys will be provided to the Minnesota and Pennsylvania National Guard units. BAE Systems will also provide upgraded vehicles for Combined Armed Battalions to Kansas, South Carolina, and Ohio National Guard units.
The upgrades include digitized electronics for situational awareness, network connectivity and enhanced communication hardware.
"Our Bradley Fighting Vehicle has served alongside Army soldiers, helping them to accomplish their missions for more than two decades," said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. "The Bradleys we are producing today provide the National Guard with enhanced survivability and interoperability on today's digital battlefield. Our team continues to produce a quality product on time to meet the needs of the soldier."
The contract was awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, and work is anticipated to begin in August with final delivery expected in April 2014, according to BAE.