Textron begins testing phase of $603M TAPV program [WATCH]
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
Textron won the contract in June 2012 to manufacture 500 Canadian Forces Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV) with options for up to 100 more.
OTTAWA—Textron Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS) has completed and shipped four pre-production Canadian Forces Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV) to locations in the U.S. and Canada for testing and training.
The Textron TAPV Team from Textron Systems Canada Inc., a Textron Inc. company, (say that three times fast…) was selected in June 2012 to manufacture 500 Canadian Forces Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV) with options for up to 100 more.
The $603.4 million TAPV contract also has an additional five-year in-service support component worth $105.4 million.
In early July, the first pre-production vehicle (PPV) was sent to Aberdeen Test Center, a U.S. Army test facility in Maryland, for qualification testing; a process scheduled to take five months. The second PPV arrived at Rheinmetall Canada in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec in mid July. Rheinmetall completed Land Communication Information System training with this vehicle, which was followed by electro optical technical training performed by Kongsberg Protech Systems Canada and vehicle technician training by TM&LS.
The third and fourth TAPV PPVs also are at Rheinmetall Canada, being tested for vehicle integration. Over the next several weeks, TM&LS is scheduled to finish work on two additional PPVs. At that point, five of the six PPVs will be sent to Canadian Forces Base Valcartier in Quebec for two weeks of Operator and Gunner Operator Training starting in late August. Immediately following, these pre-production TAPVs will begin Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Durability (RAMD) testing at Valcartier. RAMD testing is expected to continue for eight months.
Ottawa-based Textron Systems Canada, as prime contractor, is providing overall TAPV program and configuration management, acting as design authority for change management, coordinating vehicle integration activities by Canadian subcontractors, and managing the In-Service Support contract. Textron Systems Canada also is implementing a pan-Canadian Industrial and Regional Benefits program designed to bring new expertise and opportunities to Canadian companies.
Watch Textron test the TAPV and try to blow one up with an IED:
Textron Marine & Land Systems designs, produces and supports advanced wheeled combat vehicles and cutting-edge maritime craft used by U.S. and international armed forces.
