It beat out BAE subsidiary Stewart and Stevenson* to win the contract for the FMTV Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, a bunch of cab-over 4x4 2½ ton and 6x6 5 ton transport vehicles.I am surprised that they beat out Stewart and Stevenson.
This is not because of any great knowledge of capability in S&S, but because in the various attempts to compete this deal, competitors have always been leery making of a bid because of the low quality of the drawing package.....Talk about screwing up in reverse.
I guess that the DoD finally got around to insisting that a proper drawing package be produced, and once there was a drawing package that allowed other manufacturers to compete, it was inevitable that the award would go to a company with actual experience in making trucks.
The background of the original contract award is a bit "colorful," BTW.
*Full disclosure I worked at Stewart & Stevenson, Tactical Vehicle Systems, in Sealy, TX on the FMTV in 1992 and 1993.†
†Yes, I have worked everywhere. Maybe I can't hold down a job, but more likely this has been my role as "technical hit man", where you are parachuted in to take care of a specific need.
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