Navistar Defense, LLC today unveiled its International® Saratoga™ light
tactical vehicle at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA)
Annual Meeting and Symposium. The company designed the vehicle for
superior survivability, mobility and transportability to target the gap
between the current High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)
Modernized Expanded Capacity Vehicle (MECV) and Joint Light Tactical
Vehicle (JLTV) programs. The vehicle is ready for production to meet
today’s mission needs.
"Defense budgets are shifting and the circumstances demand that industry
anticipate what our warfighters need rather than wait for a written
requirement,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense.
"Finding a gap in the market is what we do in the commercial world and
we are at it again for the sake of our warfighters. The government needs
options and the Saratoga is an affordable solution – available now.”
The Saratoga light tactical vehicle has a high degree of commonality
with fielded vehicles and incorporates Navistar’s automotive and
manufacturing expertise. The company has also designed and tested its
own proprietary geometry survivability solution for the vehicle.
Considering material mix, vehicle structure and hull shape, the Saratoga
offers a more survivable solution for the light tactical vehicle class
while also meeting 76” transportability height.
The vehicle meets the most demanding performance needs and has undergone
more than 25,000 miles of automotive testing. The Saratoga incorporates
the MaxxForce® D6.0L V8 engine, automatic engaging limited slip
differentials, Allison 2100 SP 6-SP Automatic Transmission and air
independent suspension for added control.
"We believe the Saratoga is a turning point for tactical wheeled
vehicles just as the Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point
of the American Revolutionary War,” said Massicotte. "The warfighter
needs it today and we are ready.”
Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) is a holding company
whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International® brand
commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus™
brand school and commercial buses, Monaco® RV brands of recreational
vehicles, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It
also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for
the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck
and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing
services. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com/newsroom.
