Anniston Army Depot officially announced production of 586 M113 Family of Vehicles and 21 M88A1s through a foreign military sales case during a rollout ceremony here on April 28. These vehicles will be used by the Iraqi government to meet their specific national requirements.
In the Nichol Industrial Complex arena, spectators watched as an M113 armored personnel carrier rolled into view after depot commander Col. Timothy Sullivan welcomed the audience of community leaders, dignitaries, and depot personnel.
"Today represents the perfect example of the combined industrial base working together," he said.
Through the collaborative efforts of TACOM Life Cycle Management's Security Assistance Management Directorate, US Army Security Assistance Command and the depot, the customer receives a fully mission capable refurbished vehicle.
"This installation is a key component in keeping our country's warfighters and allies safe and it has the ability to adapt," said Cong. Mike Rogers, 3rd Congressional District, Alabama, who was amongthe keynote speakers.
Anniston's capability can accommodate the large quantity and variety of vehicles and is capable of meeting the fast paced production schedule requirements.
Work on the M113 began in February and is being conducted in partnership with defense contractor BAE Systems. Contracted at $60 million, the program should be complete in March 2012. However, every vehicle in this program is expected to be delivered sooner than expected, Sullivan told the crowd.
Consistent with the scope of work, the vehicles are being restored to a standard 10/20 level of repair, keeping ANAD's skill base exercised in repairing M113 FOVs.
"When Anniston was asked to improve the schedule, they stepped up to the plate and did that," said Gilbert Liptak, director of TACOM's SAMD Office.
Vehicle production on the M88A1 began in March and was complete in April, according to Michael Burke, ANAD general manager of production operations. "Team Anniston is really stepping up and doing some important things for the country. I anticipate us becoming the M113 and M88 Center of Excellence through this partnership with BAE Systems," said Burke.
This is not Anniston's first time to perform work under the FMS contract for Iraq. History reflects partnering with General Dynamics Land Systems on the M1 Abrams tank in 2010 and the installation anticipates work on another M1 program in May to provide tanks to Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a partnership is being developed for work with Australia.
"We hope today's ceremony will serve as a model for additional M113 FMS workload in the near future," said Sullivan.
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