BAE Systems has cut 610 jobs at the local armoring facility since March, dropping its employee base down to 1,190 workers.
The armoring BAE Systems will complete on the SUVs and trucks is designed to be inconspicuous and indistinguishable from their unarmored counterparts, and can be tailored to specific customer needs, the company said.
“Because they’re designed to blend in with local, indigenous cultures, and they send out a decidedly different ‘message’ than military-style vehicles, we’re seeing more and more commercial armored vehicles being used, both here in the U.S. and abroad,” said Don Dutton, vice president with BAE Systems’ Security & Survivability business.
Vehicle production will begin late in 2010, with deliveries scheduled for 2011, according to BAE Systems officials.
While the West Chester Twp. plant has been forced to slash its workforce due to the wind-down of several key military contracts, including one for the Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles and another for armored Humvees, Robinson said the company is still completing government work, but cannot reveal specifics due to confidentiality agreements.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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