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Crews at West Point facility making progress on MRAP |
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Tuesday, 25 September 2007 |
By PAUL SIMS
Starkville Daily News
Crews have shipped at least 77 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles out of a West Point facility contracted to assemble a total of about 2,000.
Glenn Dennis, a field project manager through an extension of the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, provided an update to Starkville Rotary Club members Monday on the approximately $1 billion project.
The MRAPs are primarily for use by the U.S. Marine Corps and are being developed through International Military and Government.
The vehicle’s special V-shaped hull helps protect against blasts from improvised explosive devices and mines. It can carry a two-person crew and four to 10 passengers.
“The Marines did a great job testing these vehicles,” Dennis said. “Our vehicle came out best in class for crew survivability. ... We were very, very proud of that.”
More than 400 people are currently employed on the project.
The operation helps shore up the community’s labor market, which sustained the loss of 1,200 jobs with the closure of the Sara Lee food processing plant earlier this year. As of July, Clay County reported a 19.5 percent unemployment rate.
Workers are completing tasks on the MRAP vehicle in leased space in the Babcock and Wilcox facility in West Point.
CAVS extension personnel developed simulation models to determine the number of various components of the manufacturing process needed for the project, Dennis said.
The 77 units were shipped in August. The contract completion time frame is set for February 2008.
Dennis also recapped the previous project handled through the International operation at West Point – an armored cab for large trucks.
The project generated a $20 million benefit to Mississippi and created more than 300 jobs, he said. it also produced about 558 cabs.
Clay Walden, manager of engineering extension, also provided a brief overview on the services offered through the Engineering Engagement and Outreach Service.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 September 2007 )
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