US Army Receives GRANITE-based Heavy Dump Trucks
On 10 June Mack Defense officially handed over the first five GRANITE-based M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDT) to the US Army. From July, the trucks will enter up to 40 weeks of rigorous durability testing at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland.
“The Mack Defense M917A3 HDT embodies Mack’s core values of durability, reliability and application excellence, and we’re confident these vehicles will exceed the US Army’s rigorous testing requirements,” commented company President, David Hartzell.
The Army first solicited bids for the M917 HDT programme in 2017, seeking to develop the next generation of HDT, with increased occupant protection levels, higher payload and improved mobility. Mack Defense was awarded the contract in May 2018 and will produce armour-capable or armoured HDTs with deliveries through May 2025.
The M917A3 HDT is based on the civilian GRANITE model, one of the top-selling construction trucks in North America. To meet the Army’s demanding requirements, Mack Defense engineers added heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive and an increased suspension ride height.