SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic marks M-ATV integration milestone

Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center (SSC) Atlantic marked a milestone today by integrating the 5,000th Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).

The SSC Atlantic M-ATV integration team installs command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) equipment into the M-ATVs. These vehicles are then shipped to Afghanistan to aid the soldiers and Marines on their daily patrols. SSC Atlantic is responsible for the prototyping, testing, integration, installation and quality assurance of all advanced C4I equipment on the M-ATVs.

SSC Atlantic has integrated nearly 16,000 MRAP vehicles and 5,000 M-ATVs. More than 8,000 M-ATVs – the next generation of MRAPs – have been authorized. The M-ATV answers an urgent and compelling requirement to protect warfighters with a highly survivable, off-road capable vehicle. The M-ATV mission is for small unit combat operations in highly restricted rural, mountainous and urban environments that include mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security, convoy protection and communications.

Like the MRAP integration, the M-ATV project is truly a team effort involving the vehicle manufacturers, the Defense Contracting Management Agency, industry partners, Marine Corps Systems Command, Army Joint Program Office, Army 841st Transportation Battalion, Military Sealift Command, Air Force 437th and 315th Airlift Wings, for shipping by air, Army Sustainment Logistics Command, Joint Base Charleston, Naval Weapons Station and the Coast Guard.

Since the M-ATV is within the MRAP family of vehicles, it is managed by the MRAP Joint Program Office, with the Marine Corps executing the joint program on behalf of the Navy (lead service).

“What you are doing here is very important to the warfighter,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command and Joint Program Executive Officer, MRAP. “Every time an M-ATV goes outside the wire, it saves lives. The Government Furnished Equipment being integrated at SPAWAR plays a key role in that.”

“Because of what you do, our warfighters can execute their mission with confidence in the protection and capability provided by the MRAP vehicles,” Capt. Bruce Urbon, SSC Atlantic commanding officer, told the assembled crowd at the SSC Atlantic integration facility. “For this, you should be very proud. I know that I am proud of the whole team.”