Textron Systems has spent more than 50 years designing and building combat vehicles, forging a legacy that includes its Vietnam-era V-100 scout vehicle, war-tested COMMANDO® vehicle family, and the combat-proven M1117 Armored Security Vehicle (ASV)—platforms that have enhanced battlefield mobility, protection, and mission success across the globe.
That deep bench of real-world experience is why American Rheinmetall selected Textron Systems to be its manufacturing partner in advancing next-generation combat vehicle innovation, an effort rooted in shared goals of manufacturing agility, digital integration, and modernization readiness.
Underscoring that shared vision, Textron Systems recently invested $7.5 million in infrastructure upgrades at its Slidell, Louisiana vehicle manufacturing facility, made specifically to support its collaboration with American Rheinmetall. The investment brought previously off-site processes under one roof and introduced new fabrication and outfitting capabilities that support higher-volume production and tighter quality control. “Now we have everything on site here at our vehicle manufacturing facility,” said Rich Ledet, Director of Manufacturing for Land Systems at Textron Systems. “Everything’s contiguous—continuous flow—and gives us new capability to complete these processes at a more efficient rate, which also helps mitigate risk and scheduling issues.”
The new infrastructure not only enhances capacity but creates the conditions for smarter manufacturing. With advanced fabrication and outfitting capabilities now under one roof, Textron Systems’ team can work more efficiently and with greater precision. “We’ve created an environment where experience meets technology,” said Ledet. “Veteran craftsmen and engineers are using digital tools and real-time data to drive smarter, more agile manufacturing.”
Ledet is referring to Textron Systems’ digital-first approach introduced in a 2016 Army program and continuously refined since. “All the installations, all the quality requirements, the government contract requirements are embedded in the digital manufacturing process,” said Ledet. “This ensures all employees hold the necessary credentials to perform at the highest standard, maintain compliance, and uphold traceable accountability across each production step.”
Textron Systems’ Manufacturing Execution System (MES) enables this capability by seamlessly integrating into each vehicle program’s digital thread—a continuous chain of interconnected data that links requirements, engineering, manufacturing, and sustainment through distinct digital twins. From initial design release to final inspection, the MES captures exactly who completed each task, when it was done, and to what specification.
By capturing the data throughout the build process, the system strengthens accountability, speeds issue resolution, and simplifies compliance. But the MES isn’t limited to task-level data. Workforce readiness is built into the system as well. Certification requirements and training are tracked in real time, ensuring that every skilled trade employee is thoroughly qualified before stepping onto the production floor.
In addition to its advanced MES, Textron Systems has deployed a government cloud-based Supplier Portal that securely connects suppliers to the company’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) environment. Through this portal, suppliers can manage RFQs, respond to purchase orders, update delivery statuses, and share real-time compliance data—allowing Textron Systems to streamline procurement, improve data accuracy, and expand supply chain visibility from order placement to fulfillment. This integration equips internal teams with timely insights, enabling faster issue resolution and reinforcing supplier accountability. The result is a more responsive, efficient supply chain that empowers Textron Systems to meet evolving mission requirements with speed and confidence.
According to Ledet, this commitment to both supply chain agility and overall production readiness also shows up in Textron System’s sourcing strategy. Many of the company’s suppliers are located within just a few miles of the facility, highlighting the hyperlocal nature of its supply network. Its tightly knit vendor base supports just-in-time delivery, enhances responsiveness, and reinforces the American-made manufacturing ecosystem that underpins American Rheinmetall’s industrial partnerships.
“We’re bringing critical capabilities closer to the point of need and strengthening national security through resilient, domestically anchored supply chains,” said Ledet. “It’s about ensuring our military is both ready to respond to today’s mission requirements and meet future challenges with speed, confidence, and industrial agility.”
While Textron Systems looks ahead to the future of ground combat, its approach is shaped by decades of delivering under pressure, especially in mission-critical environments. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Textron Systems played a central role in supporting the newly formed Iraqi Civil Intervention Force by supplying Armored Security Vehicles under an urgent U.S. Army contract. “Over an eight-year period, we maintained a 100% on-time delivery rate, producing 48 vehicles a month to support the mission,” Ledet explained. “When asked to increase output to meet urgent operational needs, we surged to 60 vehicles a month within a few months and sustained that rate for eight consecutive months without compromising quality or schedule.”
That experience fundamentally changed how Textron Systems approaches early-stage builds. “We apply full-rate production discipline from day one, even in our prototyping,” said Zach Bupp, Program Director for Land Systems at Textron Systems. That means building with long-term scalability in mind: incorporating automation tools, validating weld quality through 360-degree tooling, and applying rigorous quality checks that mirror full-scale production.