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Heavy Support Vehicle Purchase  –  DND/CF News Release  –  10 May 2006 Dep't of National Defence / Canadian Forces  News Release Actros  AHSVS  ( Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System ) The Department of  National Defence has awarded an $87 M contract to provide 82 Armoured Heavy Support Vehicles to the Canadian Forces. The new vehicles are a militarized  Mercedes-Benz  Actros  truck. For details, see AHSVS Project.  A key AHSVS element is its armoured cab developed by LMT (Pretoria, South Africa) for Daimler Chrysler. It protects against mines, IEDs, & projectiles, etc. but only weighs 2000kg The content of the DND / CF Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System (AHSVS) Backgrounder is reproduced directly below.  Beneath that is the DND / CF News Release for the Mercedes Actros purchase. Both were published on 10 May 2007. DND/Canadian Forces Backgrounder Renewing the Canadian Forces' Heavy Truck Capability BG-07.015 – May 10, 2007 THE REQUIREMENT Afghanistan and other recent conflicts have shown that lethal and readily avail- able anti-armour weapons, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), are spreading globally.  Protecting personnel, whether it be in a heavily armoured main battle tank or in the armoured cab of a logistics support vehicle, is a priority for ensuring successful and effective operations in today’s security environment. Logistics vehicles form the backbone of any deployed operation. History has repeatedly shown that when re-supply operations fail, armies falter. The Canadian Forces' heavy logistics requirement is currently provided by a fleet of more than 1,200 unarmoured Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled (HLVW) trucks that were procured in the late 1980s. In the 1990s, during operations in the Balkans, the threat of small arms fire, grenades and blast mines led the Army to develop an armour protection system (APS) for the HLVW. The APS components are made of steel, ceramic and ballistic glass. These components are extremely heavy and could only be designed to defeat certain threats without seriously degrading the payload capacity and functionality of the vehicle. The HLVW currently provides the entire heavy logistics capability to Canadian Forces (CF) operations in Afghanistan, and is equipped with the same APS that was procured for the Balkans conflict. The fleet was meant to operate primarily on paved roads, and the aging HLVW fleet is significantly challenged by the harsh conditions and challenging terrain of operations in Afghanistan. THE PROCESS The Department of National Defence undertook a fair, open and transparent com- petitive process in acquiring a proven, off the shelf armoured heavy logistics vehicle. A request for proposals to industry was issued in 2007, and three comp- rehensive bids were received in response. These bids were evaluated against the requirements to ensure that the equipment met the needs of the men and women of the Canadian Forces, while making sure that Canadian taxpayers get the best value for money. The successful bidder was DaimlerChrysler AG, and they have been awarded an $87 million contract for the provision of 82 armoured heavy support vehicles. CANADA'S NEW ARMOURED HEAVY SUPPORT VEHICLE FLEET The Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle System (AHSVS) will have an immediate impact on how the CF can support operations. They will provide high levels of crew protection, incorporating mine blast resistance and protection against both IEDs and ballistic threats. The AHSVS will be employed in the conduct of combat service support and com- bat tasks. This includes towing the M777 Lightweight Towed Howitzer and its basic ammunition load, transporting general cargo, such as humanitarian supplies, recovering all vehicles up to the LAVIII, transporting tanks and delivering bulk water and fuel. Initial delivery of the AHSVS to Afghanistan will commence in the fall of 2007, with final delivery anticipated for March 2008. In total, the project will provide the CF with 82 vehicles. The AHSVS will be broken down into four main variants:   •  25 cargo with material handling crane variant vehicles (of which eight will be      gun tractors for the M777);   •  Five recovery variant vehicles;   •  12 heavy tank transporter tractor variant vehicles; and   •  40 palletized loading system (PLS) with container handling unit variant vehicles      (10 [POL] petroleum, oils, and lubricants variants and five water variants). The contract also includes an option of procuring an additional 26 AHSVS of various variants. The AHSVS will be replacing the HLVWs that are presently in Afghanistan. This acquisition will provide the Canadian Forces with a protected, robust heavy logi- stics vehicle that can be used on deployed operations around the globe for years to come. The HLVW fleet will continue to service Canadian troops in areas where there is a lower threat environment. BENEFITS TO ALL CANADIANS The estimated total contract value of this heavy truck acquisition is $87 million. Benefits for Canadian industry will be substantial. For every contract dollar award- ed, DaimlerChrysler AG will commit a corresponding dollar in economic activity in Canada. DND/Canadian Forces News Release Renewing the Canadian Forces' Heavy Truck Capability NR-07.036 – May 10, 2007 OTTAWA – The ongoing commitment of Canada's New Government to the safety of Canadian Forces members engaged in deployed operations was further reinfor- ced today, thanks to an announcement that 82 Armoured Heavy Support Vehicle Systems (AHSVS) will be immediately provided by DaimlerChrysler AG to the Canadian Forces. This purchase will help renew the Forces' heavy truck capability. "Heavily armoured trucks will ensure that our soldiers have the best possible protection as they carry out their duties," said Minister Gordon O'Connor. "When these trucks begin arriving this year in Afghanistan, Canadian army transportation will be more robust and effective." "With this contract, the Government of Canada has followed through on its com- mitment to buy critical equipment for our Canadian Forces through an open, fair and transparent process," said the Honourable Michael M. Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada. "This project will provide substantial benefits for Canadian industry," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry Canada. "For every contract dollar awarded, DaimlerChrysler AG will commit a corresponding dollar in economic activity in Canada." "These new vehicles will have an immediate impact on how we can support opera- tions," said  General  Rick Hillier, Chief of  the Defence Staff. "They will provide high levels of crew protection, incorporating mine blast resistance and protection against both Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ballistic threats." DaimlerChrysler AG will immediately provide 82 AHSVS to replace the Heavy Logistics Vehicle Wheeled (HLVW) trucks currently being used in Afghanistan. Initial delivery of the AHSVS to Afghanistan will commence in the fall of 2007. In total, the project will provide the Canadian Forces with at least 82 vehicles, broken down in four main variants: cargo, recovery, tank transporter tractor, and palletized loading system. The contract also includes an option to procure an additional 26 AHSVS of various variants. The AHSVS was procured through a fair, open and transparent competitive process, ensuring that the equipment meets the needs of the men and women of the Canadian Forces while making sure that Canadian taxpayers get the best value for money. The estimated total contract value of  this heavy truck acquisition is $87 million. Benefits for Canadian industry will be substantial. For every contract dollar award- ed, DaimlerChrysler AG will commit a corresponding dollar in economic activity in Canada.