The acquisition was made by the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and is the VIPER Operational Field Evaluation portion of the $3.5 million approved for AuraGen VIPER in the FY04 Defense Budget announced October 2003.
The two Commands participating in the evaluation at this time are the Southern Europe Task Force/173rd Airborne Brigade (SETAF/173rd ABN) and the 123rd Aviation Regiment (123rd AVN).
The VIPERs are to be installed prior to the scheduled deployment of the units to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. SETAF/173rd ABN previously used AuraGen VIPERs as part of their entry force combat airdrop into Iraq at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Aura is pleased with the broadening application of AuraGen within our Armed Forces," said Raymond Yu, President and CEO. "We believe the AuraGen product provides significant advantages in delivering mobile electric power to our country's fighting forces."
The AuraGen VIPER has been supplied to, among others, Army Special Operations, Airborne, Stryker Brigade, and Corps Support commands, Marine Corps commands and Joint commands in the United States and overseas.
The VIPER has been supporting troops in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan since shortly after 9/11. In addition, the VIPER is supporting combat and combat support units that have been operating throughout Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.