AirPlus released the June edition of The Wire…from AirPlus on the topic of Travel Alternatives.  The report found that teleconferencing and web-conferencing are increasingly being used as alternatives at 81% and 71% respectively. While over half did agree that virtual meetings are as effective as meeting in person, it is interesting that 25% believed that it is rarely or almost never as effective. The top two weighted reasons cited for turning to travel alternatives included increased travel costs and decreased budgets.

“We recognize that corporate travel budgets are under scrutiny and we believe that now more than ever, our customers need the rich data that our product suite provides,” said Richard Crum, President of AirPlus International. “In addition, we offer free monthly Data Lab webinars for our customers using the AirPlus Information Manager to gain transparency for analysis of their corporate travel spend.”

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced today it has selected Oshkosh to supply MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) for its fighting forces. Oshkosh has received an initial delivery order from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) for 2,244 M-ATVs valued at $1.05 billion, following months of government testing on multiple production-ready vehicles.

“We are proud that Oshkosh was chosen to provide its M-ATV offering to the U.S. Armed Forces. Our M-ATV design combines the crew protection warfighters have come to expect in MRAP vehicles with the extreme mobility and durability needed to negotiate Afghanistan’s mountainous off-road terrain,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “Due to the urgent need of our Armed Forces for a survivable and highly mobile vehicle, our Corporation’s number one priority is meeting the Department’s accelerated delivery schedule of the Oshkosh M-ATV. Oshkosh Corporation will put whatever resources are necessary to meet or exceed the government’s delivery schedule. While we believe we can meet or exceed the government’s current delivery requirements, we intend to enter into discussions with other manufacturers to determine if they can assist in the production of the Oshkosh M-ATV.”

Bohn went on to say, “As we begin supplying our advanced, high-performance vehicles, our full-service aftermarket support network will be available with replacement parts, technical support, and repair or refurbishment services. If demands for technology or component upgrades should arise, our team is ready to deliver.”

Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense said, “Much has already been done to ensure we can meet the government’s delivery schedule. In recognition of the urgent need, we began daily production of Oshkosh M-ATVs on our flexible manufacturing line a few weeks ago. We and our suppliers have already made significant investments in materials and are well positioned to accelerate our manufacturing capabilities.”

The Oshkosh Defense investments, planning and engineering activities, and production of M-ATVs in advance of this award will allow for accelerated delivery of the Oshkosh M-ATV, with initial vehicles available to TACOM LCMC in July.

In order to achieve the off-road mobility that soldiers and Marines need in Afghanistan, Oshkosh integrated its TAK-4 independent suspension system onto the vehicle. As further testament to the government’s confidence in this suspension system, the company recently received a supply order to equip more than 1,500 legacy MRAPs with the TAK-4 system and continues to work with the Army to evaluate using the system on additional legacy MRAP models. The TAK-4 suspension system is used on more than 10,000 Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR) supplied to the Marines and Seabees, as well as on the Marines’ Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) and the Army’s next-generation Palletized Load System (PLS).

Oshkosh Defense teamed with Plasan North America for the M-ATV armor system to provide an advanced armor solution. Plasan also developed the armor system used on more than 5,000 legacy MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Armored Cab MTVRs already in theater.

Oshkosh performed more than 7,500 miles of independent off-road testing to identify possible enhancements to the vehicle so it would meet or surpass the performance requirements in the rugged terrain in Afghanistan.

BAE Systems has been awarded $124.8 million in U.S. Army contracts to reset, upgrade and maintain M113 vehicles.  Several contracts awarded to the company by the U.S. military cover repairs and improvements on the combat-proven infantry vehicles. Specifically, awards include:

• $87.7 million for the reset of 697 M113 vehicles. During the reset process, BAE Systems will repair existing vehicles to pre-deployment condition and provide some upgrades to enhance survivability, mobility and communications.
• $23.3 million for parts and materials. This covers the acquisition of long-lead items needed for future repairs to M113 vehicles.
• $7.8 million for add on armor. BAE Systems will add additional protection to 120 M113 vehicles.
• $6 million for support and maintenance on M113 vehicles at Fort Hood, Texas. This award will cover support to the U.S. Army’s 1^st Cavalry Division.

“The M113 Family of Vehicles is an integral component of the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president, Heavy Brigade Combat Team Systems for the company. “BAE Systems will continue to support our troops by repairing, maintaining and improving the M113 throughout the life cycle – freeing soldiers to focus on their mission.”

The M113 family of vehicles is one of the most widely used combat vehicles in the world. More than 80,000 of the armored tracked vehicles have been produced, including more than 40 variants. The M113 family is used by at least 44 countries. It can transport 12 troops and a driver and is capable of amphibious operation, extended cross-country travel over rough terrain and high-speed operation on improved roads and highways.

Work on these contracts will be performed by the existing workforce at BAE Systems’ facilities in Anniston, Alabama; Aiken, South Carolina and Fort Hood, Texas.

LaBarge has been awarded a $2.3 million contract from Northrop Grumman to continue to produce electronic equipment for the AN/AAQ-24(V) Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) system. LaBarge has worked on the program for more than a decade.

The only such aircraft protection system currently in production, Northrop Grumman’s DIRCM system is now installed or scheduled for installation on several hundred military aircraft to protect approximately 48 different types of large fixed-wing transports and rotary-wing platforms from infrared missile attacks. The system functions by automatically detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat, and activating a high-intensity laser-based countermeasure system to track and defeat the missile.

Production at LaBarge’s Tulsa, Okla., facility is expected to begin in October 2009 and continue through January 2010. LaBarge is a Northrop Grumman Preferred Supplier.