TEL AVIV – Israel's Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday it will acquire 200 FMTV tactical trucks from Oshkosh Defense in a contract valued at $200 million.
The order, concluded in recent days between the Ministry's New York purchasing mission and the Oshkosh, Wisconsin-based firm, follows months of field testing on an initial six trucks to ensure the firm's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) meets Israeli requirements.
In its Jan. 11 announcement, the Ministry noted that the $200 million contract likely will be followed by additional orders as the Israel Defense Force's Technology and Logistics branch moves to replace its nearly 60-year-old tactical truck force.
"We're talking about an initial deal, after which the defense establishment is expected to decide to acquire hundreds more trucks until our entire antiquated fleet is replaced," MoD noted in its statement.
Itzik Levy, deputy head of purchasing for ground systems, said deliveries will begin in the current year, with the 200th truck expected to arrive by mid-2018.
The deal, which will be paid for with Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant aid, will include logistics and maintenance services in Israel, according to the ministry.
Opall-Rome is Israel bureau chief for Defense News. She has been covering U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation, Mideast security and missile defense since May 1988. She lives north of Tel Aviv. Visit her website at www.opall-rome.com.
