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19 Nov 08. General Dynamics and The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm, have entered into a definitive agreement for General Dynamics to acquire AxleTech International, a global manufacturer and supplier of axles, axle components, planetary axles, independent suspensions, brakes and aftermarket parts for military vehicles, commercial specialty trucks, and off-highway machines used in the construction, material handling, forestry, mining and agricultural markets. AxleTech International employs approximately 1,000 workers worldwide. It is based in Troy, Michigan, and has manufacturing facilities in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; St. Etienne, France; and Osasco, Brazil. The proposed acquisition, which has been approved by both companies,
would be immediately accretive to General Dynamics' earnings. The transaction is subject to normal regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end
of 2008. AxleTech International will become part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. In announcing the acquisition, Charles M. Hall, General Dynamics executive vice president for Combat Systems, said, "AxleTech International is a well-run company with a strong management team and a skilled workforce that offers a high-value line of quality products to a global customer base. We look forward to maintaining and strengthening the relationships AxleTech International enjoys with its existing customers, expanding and diversifying the technical products General Dynamics provides to customers around the world, and pursuing new markets together through collaboration among the product experts at each company."
Mary Petrovich, chief executive officer of AxleTech International, said,
"We are very pleased to be joining General Dynamics. The expertise and
competencies that each of our companies brings to this relationship will
create a stronger, more-competitive provider of quality vehicle components
and subsystems to customers around the world."
Gregory S. Ledford, Carlyle Managing Director, said, "Carlyle is pleased
to have supported AxleTech's world class management team in its strategic
objective of expanding product lines and broadening its customer base. We
are confident AxleTech will continue to prosper as part of General Dynamics."
01 Dec 08. The international market for light wheeled combat vehicles remains a highly competitive and dynamic environment. In its annual analysis "The Market for Light Wheeled Vehicles" the Forecast International Weapons Group expects the market will produce over 71,300 light wheeled vehicles, worth in excess of $21.789bn, through 2017. Since 2005, the Forecast International Weapons Group has considered the impact of the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle on the light wheeled vehicle market. Prior to the emergence of the global war on terror, the HMMWV served as essentially a utility vehicle, not a dedicated combat vehicle. However, in the asymmetric warfare environment of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, circumstances are forcing the HMMWV to evolve into a light armored vehicle. Dean Lockwood, a weapons systems analyst at Forecast International, notes that the HMMWV has a significant impact on the overall market. "As the market statistics clearly indicate, the HMMWV will utterly dominate the market during the forecast period," Lockwood said. "We expect the HMMWV will account for 67.76 percent of all light wheeled vehicle production worldwide, worth a commanding 34.18 percent of the market value, through 2017." Despite the dominance of the HMMWV, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program has emerged as the short-term star of the market. Through September 2008, the U.S. Department of Defense has placed orders for 15,197 MRAP vehicles, with deliveries to be complete in 2009. The total value of all MRAP-related contract awards through September 2008 is nearly $12.406bn. During the 2008-2009 timeframe, Forecast International expects the four primary MRAP contractors - BAE Systems, Force Protection Industries, General Dynamics Land Systems and Navistar/IMG - will combine to produce 11,590 MRAP vehicles in various configurations. This level of production makes MRAP the second-most prolific program in this market, accounting for 16.24 percent of all light wheeled vehicle production worldwide, worth 28.85 percent of the market value, through 2017.
04 Dec 08. Marshalls of Cambridge is re-focussing its land systems subsidiaries to better support its land and joint systems customers worldwide. The new entity called Marshall Land Systems will initially bring together Marshall Specialist Vehicles which provides integrated shelter and vehicle borne solutions such as field hospitals and ground control stations; Marshall Vehicle Engineering which provides protected logistics based on crew and load protection; and Marshall Systems Design Group, which works across the company on project development and on rapid solutions to urgent operational requirements. A Project and Programme management capability will be added as a stand alone organization. Underpinning all these areas is a customer capability support organisation. The customer support team will provide assistance to understand capability needs from conception to final disposal and recycling and where appropriate replacement and for capabilities covering Marshall’s and other companies’ products. Marshall Land Systems will draw on the strengths of its sister companies within the Marshall Group for whole fleet management, and consulting. It will also be able to deploy the Group’s technical expertise in diesel engine maintenance and fitting, low voltage electrical issues, hydraulics, mechanical handling and electronics.
Commenting on the changed emphasis Peter Callaghan CEO said, “We have decided to reorganise to better focus ourselves on our customers whilst at the same time allowing them to better understand what we are about. It is about helping our customers around the world, and indeed closer to home, realise the skills and capabilities that Marshall Land Systems can deploy to assist them in the increasingly difficult operational situations we all face. We have not ruled out acquisitions to boost this capability.”
Marshall Land Systems will be headquartered in Cambridge where the protected workspace activity will be centred, with operations in Mildenhall where the protected logistics solutions are provided and Petersfield, which is the centre of excellence for providing capability development and urgent operational requirements. The project management organisation will be tasked with managing programmes which work across more than one division of Marshall LS or involve external partners.
30 Oct 08. The British Army has placed a £7m order for JCB’s high-speed, high technology backhoe loaders for deployment in Afghanistan, the company announced today. British designed and engineered, The High Mobility Engineering Excavators (HMEEs) were developed specially for the US Army who placed an order for 800 of the 60mph machines in 2005 for military engineering tasks in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the Ministry of Defence in the UK is purchasing JCB HMEE’s which will go into service in 2009. The vehicles will be used to clear routes in advance of soldiers being deployed to a specific region and will be manufactured at JCB’s North American factory in Savannah, Georgia. The machines will come complete with special kit to protect operating crews and will help meet the future operational needs of the British Army. Michael Leeming, JCB’s Director of Government and Defence Business Unit, said: “We are delighted that the British Army has placed this order which recognises the unique capabilities of this vehicle, in particular the high levels of mobility and protection.” The JCB HMEE will provide a unique plant capability to commanders on the ground, delivering greatly enhanced operational flexibility over traditional plant. The HMEE’s high mobility - an impressive blend of agility, off-road performance and speed - allows 'self deployment' of plant in support of long range, fast moving operations, without the need for additional support vehicles to carry the plant between tasks. This reduces the overall logistical footprint of the plant, while the integral crew protection kit and fully air conditioned cab affords unparalleled levels of protection and comfort to the operators.
29 Oct 08. Australia’s Minister for Defence, The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, today witnessed the signing of a $350m contract with Mercedes-Benz to supply 1200 new G-Wagons to the Australian Defence Force. The signing ceremony took place at the Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.
Minister Fitzgibbon said the two-tonne, all terrain vehicle came highly endorsed, with around 60,000 vehicles currently in use by defence forces in Canada, Austria, the United States, Germany and Singapore.
"Today's contract is an important milestone for the Government's $4.6bn, Land 121 - Project Overlander, also the Army's largest project," he said.
Land 121 is the most ambitious project ever undertaken by Army and will, over the next decade, deliver a fleet of 7,000 vehicles and supporting modules and trailers to meet the current and future demands of modern warfare.
The G-Wagon represents a new capability for Defence and will provide enhanced levels of mobility and operational functionality.
"The first vehicles delivered will be the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, the lightweight and light capability segment of Land 121 and will progressively replace the current fleet of Land Rovers some of which have been in service since the 1980s."
Minister Fitzgibbon said the Government was confident it had the best vehicle for the job.
"Earlier this year we undertook four months of rigorous compliance testing in authentic conditions to ensure the capability of the vehicle matched the requirements of the project," he said.
Six different types of G-Wagon will be acquired by Land 121 with the majority going to Army units. The range includes: a 4x4 general purpose station wagon, two 4x4 cargo variants, a 6x6 cab chassis variant, a 6x6 dual cab truck, and a specialist 6x6 surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle.
The new military vehicles will feature detachable unit-specific modules designed for tasks including munitions transfer, field ambulances and troop carriers, reducing the need for purpose built vehicles and increasing the logistical flexibility of the fleet.
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