Strategic partnership reinforces AM General prime integrator role while advancing the delivery of groundbreaking vehicle-mounted artillery to U.S. and global customers.
SOUTH BEND, Ind., and ROCK ISLAND, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018 – Global mobility solutions provider, AM General, today announced that it has made an investment in Mandus Group, an innovator of artillery solutions based on soft recoil technology, headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois. This investment will help to accelerate the deployment of the ultra-mobile Humvee Hawkeye 105mm self-propelled howitzer weapon system and further vehicle-mounted weapons systems structured around the soft recoil technology.
Deepening its relationship with Mandus Group will expand AM General in its role as a prime integrator leveraging the technology and manufacturing capabilities centered in Rock Island, Ill., and the Quad Cities region. AM General’s partnership with Mandus Group builds upon its highly successful public-private partnership with the Rock Island Arsenal to jointly deliver new Humvee ambulances to the active duty Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve.
With its investment in Mandus Group, AM General expands its portfolio of integrated mission systems and further aligns its vehicle offerings with the US Army’s top priorities. The combination of Mandus’ technology development and AM General’s manufacturing expertise will deliver the new standard for light artillery firepower and tactical mobility.
“Investing in Mandus Group is part of AM General’s core mission to address our customer needs and deliver tactically integrated systems that deliver critical capabilities to our customer,” said Andy Hove, AM General President and CEO.
“The AM General investment in Mandus Group demonstrates our collective commitment to the Quad Cities region and greatly facilitates cost effective and rapid delivery of the next generation artillery system to the soldier,” said Kevin Jansen, Mandus Group President. “The marrying of our product capabilities with AM General’s global reach allows for an unprecedented leap forward in artillery technology.”
The groundbreaking self-propelled Humvee Hawkeye howitzer system incorporates soft recoil technology that reduces loads and the weight of stabilizing structures by as much as 50 percent compared to conventional recoil systems. The merging of the soft recoil 105mm weapon system with the iconic, rugged, and proven Humvee has resulted in a dynamic platform that not only provides faster and more accurate firing but also maximizes rapid deploy-and-redeploy, “shoot and scoot” capability, with a crew half the size of traditional towed artillery systems. [VIDEO]
About AM General
AM General designs, engineers, manufactures, supplies and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers worldwide. Through its military business, the company is widely recognized as the world leader in design, engineering, manufacturing and logistics support of Tactical Vehicles, having produced and sustained over 300,000 vehicles in over 70 countries. Through its heritage companies, AM General has over 100 years of experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states.
About Mandus Group
Mandus Group provides innovative engineering and manufacturing, centered around artillery solutions, logistics services and inspect & repair programs. In addition to the revolutionary mobile light artillery system, that leverages a patented soft recoil technology that can be integrated into multiple mobility platforms, their product portfolio includes innovative systems that have proven very successful in assisting government agencies to reduce maintenance time and expense on equipment.