Senior officials from the U.S. military's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Joint Program Office are hosting a special ceremony October 14 to recognize Spartan Chassis employees for their critical role in the rapid production and deployment of the military's highest priority, MRAP vehicles.
Spartan Chassis, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors Inc., will host the military officials and other dignitaries at the company's headquarters in Charlotte, Mich., flanked by massive MRAP vehicles. Military officials will present a plaque to more than 500 Spartan workers for their vital role in engineering, manufacturing and servicing these lifesaving MRAP vehicles.
"We are extremely proud of our employees and their dedication and determination in building these life-saving machines and serving our men and women on the front lines," said John Sztykiel, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. "Our team was able to move from concept to production in less than six months – an impressive feat by any measure – and rapidly helped solve the single-biggest threat facing our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to being among the first manufacturers of these vehicles, Spartan has also helped produce more mine-resistant vehicles – including MRAPs, Iraqi Light Armored Vehicles (ILAVs) and other variants – than any other U.S. manufacturer. We believe mine-resistant vehicles and similar variants will continue to play a critical role in the ever-changing Global War on Terror."
Since 2005, Spartan has served as a military subcontractor of choice, providing specialty chassis, interiors and comprehensive automotive integration and assembly for the nation's primary MRAP manufacturers, including BAE Systems, Force Protection and General Dynamics Land Systems. Spartan now supplies more than 20 different threat-specific, mine-protected vehicle variants, including specialized configurations of MRAPs, such as those customized for ambulance duties, ordnance removal or for transporting Special Operations troops.
MRAPs are a family of heavily armored military vehicles designed to survive IED (improvised explosive device) attacks, the cause of 60 percent of all U.S. casualties in Iraq. MRAP vehicles feature innovative, V-shaped hulls that deflect explosive forces originating below the vehicle – a notorious point of weakness for non-MRAP military vehicles, such as Humvees. According to government sources, MRAPs have the highest survivability of all vehicles deployed in combat, including tanks.
Spartan has invested approximately $16 million in facilities and equipment for its military production work since 2005. Spartan has shared its military-related work with 100 Michigan-based companies, helping to employ 6,400 Michigan workers and spending $148.4 million with these companies in 2007 alone.
