Oshkosh Corporation announced March 16 plans for its Defense Division to expand technical operations in Michigan and move into a new leased state-of-the-art technical facility in Warren, Mich., replacing its existing Warren office. The announcement was made at a press conference with the Governor of Michigan and the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) Board which announced funding for Oshkosh and other companies. The MEGA Board has approved a state tax credit of $6.4 million spanning 12 years for Oshkosh.
Oshkosh Defense will move current operations from its existing leased Warren office into the new facility and plans to hire up to 190 new employees locally. This new facility will provide advanced system technical support and systems engineering for the Defense division’s work on the U.S. Army medium and heavy truck fleets. Oshkosh Corporation anticipates a capital investment in the new site of approximately $6.5 million over a five-year period.
The facility will support Oshkosh Defense’s work on the five-year Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) rebuy contract, which the Army reaffirmed on Feb. 12 and its work on the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), including the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT), Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) and Palletized Load System (PLS).
“Expanding in Warren is the right choice for Oshkosh Defense because it continues to help us more efficiently interface with TACOM, our military customer, who has offices in the Detroit area in support of our work on military programs,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “Complete integration of our advanced engineering, logistics, program management and configuration management in one location in Warren will be a natural fit as we initiate service on additional defense contracts. We’ve received the local government support we need to facilitate moving forward with this expansion and are excited by the capabilities within the local workforce.”
“We’re delighted Oshkosh Corporation has decided to expand its defense operations in Michigan with a new, state-of-the-art technical facility,” said Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “Oshkosh Corporation is an excellent partner in helping us diversify Michigan’s economy and create new high-tech, good paying jobs. The new Warren facility will help Oshkosh Defense service its government defense contracts and benefit the men and women in our armed forces.”
The Warren facility will be located in close proximity to TACOM in the Detroit metropolitan area to provide TACOM program and product managers with increased access and involvement in Oshkosh Defense’s execution and performance of their programs. This facility will be used primarily for military programs, but could offer additional services going forward.
About Oshkosh Defense
Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection.
