LOUISVILLE, June 19 -- Representatives from Ford Motor Company, the University of Louisville, the U.S. Army and the American Iron and Steel Institute joined U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell here today for a ceremonial signing of a technology agreement at Ford Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP).

A previously enacted Defense Appropriations bill awarded $6 million in fiscal year 2000 for a research effort by Ford and the University of Louisville in conjunction with the American Iron and Steel Institute -- for the development of truck technologies for potential use by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The technologies development effort - called IMPACT, an acronym for "Improved Materials and Powertrain Architectures for Trucks" - supports the development of lightweight and durable truck technologies for dual use in tactical military trucks.

Today's ceremony signals the start of the IMPACT project aimed at developing lightweight, more fuel-efficient Super Duty trucks. Super Duty trucks are produced at KTP.

The program seeks to develop lightweight, fuel efficient, corrosion resistant, low-cost technologies for commercial and military trucks. It will focus on the use of high-strength steel, laser-welded blanks and improved bonding to significantly reduce the weight of a Ford F-Series for potential military application. Ford F-Series is the best-selling truck in North America.

"The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a great deal to gain from the IMPACT initiative," said Senator Mitch McConnell, R-KY, a member of the Republican Congressional leadership and the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Ford builds many of its larger pickup trucks in Louisville and the U.S. Army is a major user of military trucks on its large bases in the state. I'm most pleased that Ford selected the University of Louisville to be its principal research partner in this effort."

McConnell led Senate efforts for the research project. Participants in today's signing ceremony also included General J.G. Coburn, Commanding General, U.S. Army Material Command; Major General John S. Caldwell, Jr., Commanding General, US Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command; Lt. Col. Scott L. Abbott, Chief of Futures and Simulation Division, Mounted Maneuver Battlespace Laboratory-Fort Knox; John Shumaker, president of The University of Louisville; Peter Kelly, Chairman President and CEO, LTV Corporation and Vice Chairman - American Iron and Steel Institute; Bob Himes, Director of Engineering - Ford North American Trucks; Janet Mullins, Vice President - Ford Governmental Affairs; and Frank Foley, Manager - Ford Kentucky Truck Plant. Ford selected the University of Louisville to lead research on light truck architectures for the project. "IMPACT will directly benefit the Louisville metro area by promoting and increasing our truck research and manufacturing competencies," said Shumaker.

Foley said Ford engineers will assist in the University research which eventually could provide a competitive advantage to KTP if the US Army decides to purchase the next generation of fuel-efficient trucks from Ford.

Kelly added that the steel industry is "encouraged by its efforts in developing new steel technologies and is pleased about partnering with well-known leaders in automotive design such as Ford and the University of Louisville."

Improved corrosion resistance, which is another IMPACT project goal, will result in a longer service life with less maintenance. Tactical military trucks based on commercial vehicle platforms will yield significant cost savings compared to vehicles built for a single purpose.