Army contract for Alcoa

The US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command has awarded Alcoa a $12.5 million contract to develop lightweight aluminium structures for military ground combat and tactical vehicles.

The

US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command

has awarded

Alcoa

a $12.5 million, three-year, research, development and engineering contract to develop lightweight aluminium structures for military ground combat and tactical vehicles.

This award is part of Alcoa's Army Lightweight Structures Initiative (ALSI). The contract is a follow on to the $1.2 million the Army initially awarded Alcoa in 2004.

Contract monies will be utilised by Alcoa staff in conjunction with the Army's Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Command (TARDEC) and through collaborative relationships with military land vehicle OEMs such as General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Truck Corporation and Stewart & Stevenson.

"Based on our close associations in the defence industry, we understand that weight savings will have a profound effect on the military's ability to manoeuvre vehicles quickly and to transport more equipment on existing cargo planes saving valuable time, money and fuel costs,” commented Alcoa Chief Technical Officer and Vice President Mohammad A. Zaidi.