M88A2 HERCULES

The M88A2 HERCULES is an upgraded version of the M88A1 recovery vehicle. It was designed for safely recovering 70-ton category main battle tanks such as the M1 Abrams. Currently, the M88A2 is fielded with the United States Army, the Marine Corps and the Egyptian Army providing support to the M1A1/A2 Abrams tanks. Australia also purchased seven M88A2 vehicles in support of the M1A1 AIM tanks ordered in 2004. The United States Army requirement is for 595 M88A2 HERCULES recovery vehicles, the Marine Corps requirement was originally for 60 vehicles (now 66) and allied nations have purchased an additional 114 vehicles so far. The M88A2 HERCULES are obtained by upgrading existing M88A1 vehicles. As of March 2007, the US Army has fielded 157 HERCULES and the US Marine Corps all its planned HERCULES. In August 2006 BAE Systems was awarded a $5.1 million contract to provide two M88A2 HERCULES tank recovery vehicles for the US Marine Corps. Deliveries were scheduled for December 2007 with the Marine Corps' M88A2 holdings increased to 66 with the two vehicles on order. On 9 November 2006 the US Army awarded BAE Systems a $251 million contract for the production of M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles through November 30, 2009. The contract was modified in early March 2007 with deliveries extended through January 2010.

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