BAE Systems Receives $42 Million Contract for Vehicle Emergency Escape Windows

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – BAE Systems received an undefinitized order to provide 5,325 Vehicle Emergency Escape (VEE) Window kits from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command. The kits are a featured component in the Army’s Fragmentation Kit Seven being fielded this year to enhance the safety and performance of the up-armored M1151 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). The estimated total value of this contract is $42 million.

The patent-pending VEE Window technology enables soldiers to quickly exit the vehicle in the event of an emergency, such as a rollover or accident, by releasing and pushing out the front window. The simplicity of the design requires no additional training of soldiers.

“The VEE Window features simple, life-saving technology, which enables soldiers to evacuate from a vehicle emergency in seconds and is a proven, valuable safeguard for our troops,”said Mark Signorelli, vice president and general manager of New Vehicles & Amphibious Systems for BAE Systems.

This latest contract raises the total Army orders for VEE Window kits to over 17,000, with more than 10,000 kits already shipped for the up-armored M1114 and M1151 HMMWVs. The VEE windows technology is adaptable to many tactical up-armored combat vehicles, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles or Marine Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements.

With few moving parts, the VEE Window requires minimum maintenance, a very low life-cycle cost and can be installed in the field by trained Army and Marine maintenance crews.

Work on the VEE Window order will be performed at BAE Systems and industrial partner facilities in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Butler, Pennsylvania.