ALLENTOWN, PA (Feb. 18, 2019) – Mack Defense recently started production of five Mack® Granite®-based M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDT) as part of the Production Vehicle Testing (PVT) phase of its $296 million contract with the U.S. Army for armored and armor-capable HDTs. Once completed, the trucks will enter 40 weeks of rigorous durability testing at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center this summer.
“Our production team and suppliers are excited to begin building these next generation HDTs for the U.S. Army,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “We’re confident the M917A3 will provide the Army the legendary durability and toughness Mack customers have come to depend on.”
Seeking the next generation of M917 vehicles to offer increased protection levels, higher payload and improved mobility, the U.S. Army solicited bids for new HDTs in June 2017. The contract, awarded to Mack Defense in May 2018, allows for Mack Defense to produce armor-capable or armored HDTs with deliveries through May 2025. The trucks will increase operational effectiveness and readiness, and will support mobility, counter mobility, survivability and sustainment operations for the Joint Forces in areas of the world with austere infrastructures and little or no host nation support.
“We have had regular meetings with our U.S. Army partners in preparation for the PVT phase of the contract, and we look forward to providing a tough, dependable truck that will meet their requirements,” said Jack Terefinko, HDT program manager for Mack Defense.
Based on the civilian Mack Granite model, Mack Defense engineers optimized the M917A3 HDT to meet the current needs of the U.S. Army, while allowing for evolving requirements and future growth. With heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive and increased suspension ride height, the M917A3 is capable of meeting the demanding payload and mobility requirements set by the U.S. Army HDT program.
I have no idea what I would do with it, but I want one!
turn it in to a custom 4×6 Overland Rig
I’m glad to see a shift in the Army thinking on armor on vehicles. For so many years they thought in numbers rather than survivability. Can’t wait to see it in some motorpools.
The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers are in the process of replacing their fleet of earthmovers. As Canada is using the Mack as the new SMP, hope the egg heads in Ottawa put in an order before there is another twenty year study to study the issue of earth movers? It’s a dump truck that has an up-Armor kit. 200 please.
Interesting how the Army went from AM General for the M917, Freightliner for the A1 and A2 and Mack for the A3. I’m guessing that even though there’s probably not much in common other than the application, the M-917 nomenclature is retained to pull from different pots of upgrade versus new acquisition money.
The M54, M800 series, M923, and M1083 5-tons all filled the same role and had plenty of service overlap but were given distinct M numbers.