NEWTOWN, Conn. -- On September 18, 2020, the U.S. Army Contracting Command (Detroit Arsenal, MI) awarded SSI Technology (Sterling Heights, MI) a $7,181,000 firm-fixed-price contract (W56HZV-20-D-0106) to provide auxiliary power units for sustainment of the M88 Tank Recovery Vehicle fleet. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2025.

In 1991, the center of gravity for the M88 recovery vehicle program in the U.S. shifted to the Improved Recovery Vehicle upgrade effort, which rebuilds M88A1 vehicles to the M88A2 HERCULES configuration.

The U.S. Army intends to commence production of the M88A3 configuration of the HERCULES in FY23.

The original IRV plan called for the conversion of 630 M88A1 vehicles to the M88A2 HERCULES standard by 2012. However, according to U.S. Department of Defense budget request documentation, the U.S. Army intends to continue funding the IRV program through FY25. The current Army Acquisition Objective stands at 933 HERCULES vehicles.

In marketing terms, nothing succeeds like the "combat- proven" label, and the M88A2 HERCULES has certainly earned that distinction since its combat debut during Operation Desert Storm (1991). Further, on April 9, 2003, the M88A2 HERCULES became an unexpected instant media star during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The image of the M88A2 HERCULES pulling down the statue of Saddam Hussein at Firdos Square in central Baghdad became an iconic symbol of the global war on terror.

Aside from the IRV rebuild program, international demand for the unique capabilities of the M88A2 HERCULES to support the current generation of main battle tanks (such as the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2) will continue to sustain low-rate production of this vehicle.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: defense.gov
Author: D. Lockwood, Weapons Systems Analyst