Stewart & Stevenson's FMTV is the U.S. Army's 'Platform of Choice'

HOUSTON, Dec. 18 -- From launching rockets to transporting Combat Support Hospitals to roaming the planet Mars, Stewart & Stevenson's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) is the platform of choice for a variety of cutting-edge defense and high-technology applications in addition to performing its traditional cargo, dump, line-haul tractor, wrecker, and material handling duties.

Partnering with the Army and leading defense companies -- including Lockheed Martin, United Defense, LP and BAE SYSTEMS -- Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP is proving that the high-quality, versatile FMTV chassis has become the common denominator for a wide range of combat, combat support and experimental missions.

``The FMTV's unprecedented reliability, tactical mobility and capability of deployment on a C-130 aircraft at gross vehicle weight make it the obvious choice as a platform for the Army's Legacy, Interim and Objective Forces,'' said Dennis M. Dellinger, President and Chief Operating Officer of Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP.

Current applications incorporating Stewart & Stevenson's C-130 deployable FMTV platform include:

* The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), produced by Lockheed Martin, fires a six-pack of MLRS rockets or a single Army Tactical Missile System from an FMTV chassis.

* A prototype Tilt Bed FMTV Transporter for the XM777 Lightweight Howitzer has been produced in collaboration with United Defense, LP and BAE SYSTEMS.

* The FMTV chassis has been selected as the platform for a new class of efficient Load Handling System (LHS). The FMTV-LHS, developed in conjunction with Partek Cargotec of the United Kingdom, has an 8.8-ton payload capacity and will be used initially to transport Combat Support Hospitals.

* The FMTV platform was selected by the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) for the development of a hybrid electric power train. A prototype Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), offering potential fuel consumption savings of up to 50 percent, has been produced by a Stewart & Stevenson/BAE SYSTEMS team.

* A Height-Reducible Electronic Enclosure (HREE), developed by Marion Composites and based on an FMTV chassis, provides a high volume C-130 deployable package that eliminates the problem of overloading HMMWVs.

* Stewart & Stevenson's FMTV trailer will serve as a key element in a surface-launched explosive minefield clearing system known as Mongoose.

Future innovations will also incorporate the ultra-reliable FMTV trucks and companion trailers. FMTV can serve as a platform for theater missile defense systems. An armored cab FMTV is under joint development with O'Gara- Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company. One of the two experimental rovers to be created for the University of Michigan Mars Rover Project Everest for a possible manned mission to Mars will be based on the FMTV chassis. FMTVs will be used as off-road fire trucks, and a state police force is considering the use of an FMTV truck in SWAT team operations.

The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles shares 85 percent commonality across more than 14 truck variants and two trailers. The trucks and trailers come in a range of payload capacities, and are produced in the company's state-of-the-art facilities in Sealy, Texas.

Founded in 1902, Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. provides power systems, parts and services to the following industries: Military; Marine; Oil & Gas; Agriculture; Industrial; Highway & Transit; and Airline Ground Support. The corporate Web site is http://www.ssss.com . Stewart & Stevenson Tactical Vehicle Systems, LP is the primary contractor for the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), which includes 2.5- ton and 5-ton trucks in 14+ variants with 85% commonality. More information can be found at http://www.fmtvtruck.com .