General Dynamics gets $26M to build assualt vehicle prototypes

Posted on May 10, 2012

Sterling Heights-based General Dynamics Land Systems on Wednesday was awarded a $26 million contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command to build two joint assault bridge prototypes.

The joint assault bridge — or JAB — system will be an armored engineering vehicle that will allow military vehicles to cross ravines or gorges in combat by way of “bridging.”

General Dynamics Land Systems says the prototypes will have the protection and survivability of current tank fleets and will add the speed and mobility to keep pace during combat operations.

The JAB is an initiative to replace the armored vehicle-launched bridge, a current combat support vehicle.

The two JAB prototypes, along with test-support packages, will be completed and delivered to the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland.

General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, expects to complete the project by August 2014.

Karl Henkel, Detroit News