APV Safety Products secures seat belt contract for BAE armoured vehicles in the U.S.
Victorian company APV Safety Products has been awarded a three-year, US$500,000 contract to supply passenger restraints for military vehicles being built for the U.S. military by BAE Systems.
APV’s military seatbelts will be used in amphibious and land military platforms built by BAE Systems in the USA, including the 8×8 wheeled Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) for the US Marines and U.S. Army’s Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle that will replace the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier.
BAE Systems Australia says that the international contract represents a significant milestone for APV, which has been providing restraints for Australian and North American military vehicles since 2002.
The contract, with an optional additional year, was secured through the company’s involvement with BAE Systems Australia’s Global Supply Chain program, which works with Australian SMEs to identify opportunities, assist in development efforts and qualify capabilities..
BAE Systems Australia CEO Gabby Costigan, said that the company was opening the door to a global supply chain worth around AU$17 billion to Australian SMEs through its global business.
“APV is a fantastic example of this and with its involvement in this program, we will continue to provide the highest level of protection within our company’s military vehicles.”
APV’s Managing Director and CEO Harry Hickling said that this agreement builds on APV’s track record of providing battle-proven military restraints since 2002. These include the Australian Bushmaster and US MaxxPro mine-resistant vehicles that saw combat service in Afghanistan, nothing that personnel wearing APV restraints within those vehicles did not suffer a single fatality.
“The relationship with BAE Systems in the US means APV is working on the most technically advanced protected amphibious and land vehicle systems in the North American market.”
“Importantly, it serves as great recognition for our engineers and staff who have contributed so much to make this success possible,” he added.
BAE Systems in the U.S. is being contracted to build AMPVs in five different variants for the U.S. Army to replace its legacy M-113 armoured personnel carrier fleet, while the Marines’ ACV 1.1 program will see the company delivered a planned eventual total of 204 vehicles to replace its Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV)-7.
The latter is based on the Italian Iveco Super AV 8×8 wheeled armoured vehicle, and BAE is also developing command and 30mm gun armed variants of the ACV for the Marines.
The U.S. Army plans to eventually buy a total of 2,897 AMPVs, which are based on the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and Paladin self-propelled howitzer. Both the ACV 1.1 and AMPV programs are currently in the Low-Rate Initial Production stage.
