Bulgaria will deploy the new Commando Select vehicles to support the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Photo Textron Inc.

15 October 2014 army-technology.com

Textron Systems Marine & Land Systems (TM&LS) has been awarded a foreign military sales contract to supply Commando Select four-wheeled armoured vehicles to the Bulgarian National Military Forces.

Awarded by the US Army Contracting Command, the $15.2m contract requires the company to deliver ten Commando Select vehicles, along with related fielding hardware and technical services.

Textron will supply three variants, including a turreted vehicle with co-axially mounted 40mm Mk-19 and .50 cal machine guns, a command and control (C2) variant with turret, and an ambulance variant used for patient treatment and transport.

Textron Marine & Land Systems senior vice-president and general manager Tom Walmsley said: "Our customer values both the level of performance and protection offered by these vehicles, as well as the support and training services our team can provide throughout each vehicle's lifecycle."

The C2 vehicles will be integrated with Textron Systems' remote video terminal technology for real-time situational awareness from a variety of unmanned systems and other sources.

"Commando Select is a 90mm direct-fire vehicle designed to address the growing international requirement for significantly greater under-armour firepower."

The vehicles are scheduled to be deployed in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

Commando Select is a 90mm direct-fire vehicle designed to address the growing international requirement for significantly greater under-armour firepower, integrated on a highly mobile armoured vehicle.

Capable of carrying up to seven soldiers alongside the crew, the vehicle incorporates a monocoque V-shaped hull, which is designed for protection against landmines and improvised explosive devices. A CMI Defence Cockerill CSE 90LP weapon system provides day / night combat capability for counter-insurgency and legacy combat operations.

Work under the contract is scheduled to be carried out in Louisiana, and Maryland, US, and Afghanistan, while deliveries are expected to begin during the first quarter of 2015. All contract activities should be completed by June 2015.

The Bulgarian military's inventory currently includes seven Commando vehicles, which were delivered in 2008 and are operated by ISAF in Afghanistan.

In addition, Textron is also under contract to provide the Bulgarian Army with technical support in Afghanistan and quarterly training in Bulgaria.