THE Ministry of Defence has ordered a fleet of 486 Iveco multi-purpose lightweight vehicles (MLV) in a deal worth more than £200 million.

Alvis Vickers is supplying the fleet after securing the contract ahead of four other suppliers. The vehicles will be delivered after a demonstration period running until 2005, with the MoD expected to use the vehicles for up to 30 years.

Andrew Bucknall, manager for Iveco's UK defence vehicle division, said: 'The MLV can be used in a wide range of roles such as ambulance, weapons carrier, mobile radar and light gun tractor. It will also protect against against mines, minimise the risk of optical, thermal and radar detection and combine fast road speeds with off-road capability. The MLV is a technically advanced armoured reconnaissance vehicle. It also meets the stringent European road legislation class N2G, and is one of the first vehicles in its class to achieve this without major concessions to the regulations.'

It is powered by a 2.8-litre common rail diesel engine and will replace several types of older vehicles currently in use.