New Model: MRAP Meets ATV

Coming to a skirmish near you: MRAPATVs

First there were ATV -- All Terrain Vehicles. Then came MRAP(V)s -- Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected Vehicles. Put them together and what do you get? Correct: Mine-Resistant, Ambush–Protected All-Terrain Vehicles! Give that man a UAV!

So, why do we need MRAPATVs? Well, in turns out that the current models of MRAPs are OK for deployment on the IED-laced “paved” roads in Iraq. However, for the “Istani” campaign (yes, there is now more than one “stan” with which we must contend), there aren’t many paved roads (they are, however, fairly-well lined with IEDs).

This has the consequence that the axles of the existing MRAPs -- which, like the almost extinct Pontiac, are relatively wide-tracked -- are snapping. Hence, we need a new, improved off-road model…really quickly!

Accordingly, our military is now testing newer MRAP-types at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland which are equipped with (hopefully) radical suspension systems.

Since some of these super-rigs come with a unit price tag of $1 million or more -- and the armed forces in the Istans may need quite a few thousand before this is all over -- there appears to be a lot of interest on the part of many stalwarts of industry in the possibility of being an MRAPATV provider.

As with the predecessor-MRAPs, the possible players include: BAE Systems (owns Armor Holdings/Stewart & Stevenson), Ceradyne (CRDN - Snapshot Report), Force Protection Industries (FRPT - Snapshot Report), General Dynamics (GD - Analyst Report), L-3 Communications (LLL - Analyst Report), Lockheed Martin (LMT - Analyst Report), Navistar International (NAV - Snapshot Report; also manufactures International trucks), Oshkosh Truck (OSK - Snapshot Report) and Textron (TXT - Snapshot Report; owns Cadillac Gauge).

This looks like a crash program!

Perhaps, later, when petrol is cheaper, Fiat can come out with the MRAPPER.