The Grizzly JLTV.
Blackwater Closes Vehicles Division, Lays Off Employees
By kris osborn
Published: 3 Nov
Blackwater USA has closed its vehicle operation after unsuccessfully bidding for contracts to build Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, company officials said Nov. 2.
The Grizzly was a candidate for JLTV contracts.
The Moyock, N.C., firm will lay off an unspecified number of employees of the vehicles division, Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrell said in a written statement.
“We built some great trucks that will be used to protect our own people abroad. But with no JLTV award, we couldn’t keep the entire operation going. The company will continue to develop and manufacture target systems, as we always have,” Tyrell said.