Mack Defense has handed over the first production M917A3 heavy dump trucks (HDTs) to the US Army and US Army Reserve.
The delivery follows the roll off of the vehicle at the company’s new production line at Mack Experience Centre (MEC) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, US.
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The HDTs’ production at the MEC began during the first quarter of this year, following an investment of $6.5m to create a new HDT production line.
Mack Defense president David Hartzell said: “It’s an honour to write the next chapter in Mack’s rich history of producing vehicles for the US Armed Forces on this dedicated line and deliver the first, new Heavy Tactical Wheeled Vehicle the US Army has added to their portfolio in 12 years.
“We look forward to fulfilling our current contract and the needs of the US Army, delivering vehicles that have earned the acceptance of the armed forces through successful rounds of rigorous testing.”
Earlier in March this year, the US Army placed an order of 99 Mack Defense M917A3 non-armoured HDTs designed to meet military transportation requirements.
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By GlobalDataThis order was placed as part of a previously announced firm-fixed-price $296.4m contract between the US Department of Defense and Mack Defense in May 2018.
In the same month, orders for an additional 56 HDTs were placed under the 2021 presidential budget.
Based on the Mack Granite model, the HDTs will be equipped with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive and increased suspension ride height to meet US Army requirements.
The GVWR M917A3 HDTs feature an all-wheel-drive 8×8 configuration.
The 94,500lb M917A3s are powered by 13l Mack MP8 engines, which offers a maximum power of 440hp and torque of 1,660 pound-feet (lbft).
US Army Transportation Systems, Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support project manager Wolfgang Petermann said: “Many of the army’s missions are within extremely austere environments, so if we need to build things to support combat or training operations, dump trucks are absolutely essential to the force.”
