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Army Truck Technology Pact Sealed in Louisville

19 June 2000

Lighter, More Fuel-Efficient Trucks is Project Goal

    LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Representatives from Ford Motor Company, the University 
of Louisville, the U.S. Army and the American Iron and Steel Institute joined 
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell here today for a ceremonial signing of a technology 
agreement at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP).

    A previously enacted Defense Appropriations bill awarded $6 million in
fiscal year 2000 for a research effort by Ford and the University of
Louisville in conjunction with the American Iron and Steel Institute -- for
the development of truck technologies for potential use by the U.S. Department
of Defense.

    The technologies development effort -- called IMPACT, an acronym for
"Improved Materials and Powertrain Architectures for Trucks" -- supports the
development of lightweight and durable truck technologies for dual use in
tactical military trucks.

    Today's ceremony signals the start of the IMPACT project aimed at
developing lightweight, more fuel-efficient Super Duty trucks.  Super Duty
trucks are produced at KTP.

    The program seeks to develop lightweight, fuel efficient, corrosion
resistant, low-cost technologies for commercial and military trucks.  It will
focus on the use of high-strength steel, laser-welded blanks and improved
bonding to significantly reduce the weight of a Ford F-Series for potential
military application.  Ford F-Series is the best-selling truck in North
America.

    "The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a great deal to gain from the IMPACT
initiative," said Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY, a member of the Republican
Congressional leadership and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

    "Ford builds many of its larger pickup trucks in Louisville and the U.S.
Army is a major user of military trucks on its large bases in the state. I'm
most pleased that Ford selected the University of Louisville to be its
principal research partner in this effort."


    McConnell led Senate efforts for the research project.

    Participants in today's signing ceremony also included General J.G.
Coburn, Commanding General, U.S. Army Material Command; Major General John S.
Caldwell, Jr., Commanding General, US Army Tank Automotive and Armaments
Command; Lt. Col. Scott L. Abbott, Chief of Futures and Simulation Division,
Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Laboratory-Fort Knox; John Shumaker, president of
The University of Louisville; Peter Kelly, Chairman President and CEO, LTV
Corporation and Vice Chairman - American Iron and Steel Institute; Bob Himes,
Director of Engineering - Ford North American Trucks; Janet Mullins, Vice
President - Ford Governmental Affairs; and Frank Foley, Manager - Ford
Kentucky Truck Plant.

    Ford selected the University of Louisville to lead research on light truck
architectures for the project.

    "IMPACT will directly benefit the Louisville metro area by promoting and
increasing our truck research and manufacturing competencies," said Shumaker.

    Foley said Ford engineers will assist in the University research which
eventually could provide a competitive advantage to KTP if the US Army decides
to purchase the next generation of fuel-efficient trucks from Ford.

    Kelly added that the steel industry is "encouraged by its efforts in
developing new steel technologies and is pleased about partnering with well-
known leaders in automotive design such as Ford and the University of
Louisville."

    Improved corrosion resistance, which is another IMPACT project goal, will
result in a longer service life with less maintenance. Tactical military
trucks based on commercial vehicle platforms will yield significant cost
savings compared to vehicles built for a single purpose.