Leonardo DRS has accepted a $49-million contract to manufacture additional Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) systems for the US and Romania.
The JAB is an advanced track-wheeled armored engineer vehicle based on the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank chassis. It is built for assault-bridging tasks and to sustain the maneuverability of American warfighters and their international counterparts.
The company noted in its press release that the solutions will be delivered to the US Army and the Romanian Armed Forces through a foreign military sales agreement once completed.
“We are proud to continue to deliver this robust and reliable system to the US Army and allied militaries to ensure armored vehicles can better navigate complex battlefield conditions,” Leonardo DRS Land Systems SVP and General Manager Aaron Hankins stated.
“In partnership with the US Army, we have successfully delivered more than 100 of these next-generation Joint Assault Bridge systems.”
“JAB is a force multiplier and provides warfighters with advanced infrared vision technology, rapid assault launch and retrieve capability and superior mobility.”
The Joint Assault Bridge System
Leonardo’s JAB vehicle weighs 62.3 tons (62,300 kilograms) and measures 32.2 feet (9.8 meters) long.
It is protected by Burlington composite armor and equipped with a Honeywell multi-fuel turbine engine with 1,500 horsepower, specialized suspension bars, and a larger fuel tank.
The system has a top speed of 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) per hour and an operational range of 260 miles (418.4 kilometers).
