Military Wants More Armored Vehicles in Afghanistan to Deal with Road-side BombsMay 05, 2009

 

MRAP

For the first time the number of attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan has exceeded those in Iraq. This trend has led U.S. commanders in Afghanistan to increase their requests for armored vehicles to replace Humvees.

Last August, commanders there asked for about 370 new all-terrain versions of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to deal with IEDs and the country's rugged terrain. They increased the request to about 3,600 in October, and the overall request topped 4,100 by November, according to an article in USA Today.

The MRAP's V-shaped hull and raised chassis is said to offer a better defense against buried bombs than flat-bottomed Humvees.

The Pentagon plans to award contracts sometime this summer to build the MRAPs, according to USA Today. Until then, commanders in Afghanistan want more of the lighter versions used in Iraq.

(Photo Courtesy of U.S. Army)