AM General taps Michigan company for JLTV components
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South Bend-based AM General continues to move forward with plans to produce Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the U.S. Army. The manufacturer has awarded a five-year, $300 million contract to Plasan North America in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the production of components that will be used in the vehicles.
Plasan said in a news release it has provided armor components for the JLTV program for the last seven years. Under the new contract with AM General, the company will manufacture subcomponents for the vehicle’s armored cab.
Plasan North America manufactures panels to use in retrofitting structures against forced entry and the construction of ballistic, IED-resistant vehicles, safe rooms, industrial applications, according to its website.
To meet the requirements of the new contract, the company said it will add about 170 jobs over the next 18 months.
“This partnership recognizes our long-standing dedication to the success of the [JLTV] program and our unwavering commitment to supporting our armed forces,” said Plasan North America President John Cavedo. “We are proud to build on our legacy and expand our involvement with the JLTV A2, create new job opportunities for West Michigan, and contribute to the growth of our local community.”
In February, AM General was awarded an initial $230 million contract to manufacture the JLTVs. However, the Department of Defense said the deal could be worth $8.6 billion over 10 years for the production of more than 20,000 JLTVs and 10,000 trailers.
Production of the armored vehicle will take place at the company’s Mishawaka Manufacturing Campus, where AM General also produces Humvees for the military.
AM General said it would invest millions of dollars and hire hundreds of additional workers to satisfy the terms of the contract, though specific numbers were not provided.
Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission is also contributing to the new production of JLTVs. The company said in April it would continue to provide transmissions for the vehicles as it has done since 2015.