Mack Defense receives order for 103 trucks for the U.S. Army M917A3 HDT program
The U.S. military recently ordered 103 Mack Defense M917A3 heavy dump trucks.
The additional vehicles are part of the previously announced firm-fixed-price $296 million contract over seven years that the Army awarded Mack Defense in 2018, which allows for up to 683 trucks. For this new order, 74 HDTs will be purchased from the presidential budget and 29 by the National Guard.
The HDTs play a role in the construction and upkeep of infrastructure assets, including airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities, and motor pools.
“Our military continues to field Mack HDTs into various operations around the world, so these vehicles have been put to the test and continue to meet demanding requirements,” Dave Hartzell, president of Mack Defense, said. “For that reason, the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard continue to invest in these modern HDTs to ensure our soldiers have the right truck with the highest level of capabilities needed to ensure mission success.”
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The Army previously ordered 446 HDTs, which are based on the commercially available Mack Granite model but spec’d with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height, and other features to meet the requirements of the U.S. military.
The Mack Granite HDT model features advanced technology including ABS, modern control interfaces for user-friendly operation, and active safety systems. Compared to older Army HDT models, these modern features and improved sustainability were key factors in the Army’s investment in these new HDTs, according to Hartzell. Both the Mack Granite-based HDTs and the production line at the Mack Experience Center (MEC) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, have undergone inspection by government-quality auditors to ensure these trucks exceed expectations.
The MEC began producing HDTs in Q1 2021, following an investment of $6.5 million to create a dedicated HDT production line. The production line helps fulfill the M917A3 contract while allowing Mack Defense to produce other vehicle variants.
