The US Army has awarded Ricardo’s Defense business unit a contract to deliver additional Antilock Brake System/Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ESC) retrofit kits to improve the safety of operation of the US Army’s High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).
In addition to the retrofit kits Ricardo has previously delivered, this $18.9 million contract award will improve safety on fielded vehicles in the US Army’s enduring HMMWV fleet.
More than 7,000 new production or recapitalized HMMWV vehicles have been delivered to the US Army with Ricardo’s integrated ABS/ESC technology following the Army’s mandate of the Ricardo system on all new production HMMWVs.
In 2019, the Army provisioned Ricardo’s ABS/ESC retrofit kit into the national stock system for application of vehicles produced prior to 2019 that are slated to remain in the Army’s enduring fleet through 2040.
“Ricardo is committed to providing our customers with mission critical, innovative, integrated solutions that deliver capability to the soldier,” said Chet Gryczan, President of Ricardo Defense. “This award demonstrates that Ricardo can solve tough challenges for legacy systems that require a future-looking integrated solution. Consistent with our core values of sustainable, safe, and smart mobility, the successful deployment of Ricardo’s ABS/ESC safety critical system ensures the safety of soldiers and operators remain at the forefront of every training and operational mission. We are extremely proud to support the US Army’s objective ensuring that soldier safety remains a top priority throughout each mission.”
The Ricardo-developed ABS/ESC retrofit system encompasses a complete solution integrated into the HMMWV architecture including antilock braking, electronic stability control, active rollover protection, traction control, and improved brake calipers, pads, and rotors.
The system also introduces a crashworthy steering column and a modern electronic network to the vehicle and leverages low-cost, proven components specifically designed for the arduous requirements of military application.
