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MRAP

January 10, 2023

For other uses, see MRAP (disambiguation).

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP; /ˈɛmræp/ EM-rap) is a term for United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes.[1] The United States Department of Defense MRAP program began in 2007 as a response to the increased threat of IEDs during the Iraq War.[2] From 2007 until 2012, the MRAP program deployed more than 12,000 vehicles in the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.

A Cougar HE MRAP being tested in January 2007 with landmines

Production of the first round of MRAP vehicles officially ended in 2012,[1] followed by the launch of the Oshkosh M-ATV vehicle. In 2015, Oshkosh Corporation was awarded a contract to build the Oshkosh L-ATV as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a lighter mine-resistant vehicle to replace the Humvee in combat roles and supplement the M-ATV.[3]

The MRAP's high centre of gravity means it has a tendency to roll over easily. In one study, a majority of the accidents MRAPs were involved in saw the vehicles overturning.

History

Light armored vehicles designed specifically to resist land mines were first introduced in specialized vehicles in the 1970s by the Rhodesian Army, and further developed by South African manufacturers, starting in 1974 with the Hippo armored personnel carrier (APC).[4][5] The first step in SADF was the Bosvark, a Unimog fitted with a shallow mine-deflecting tub on the chassis to protect the crew. Then came the first generation of purpose-built vehicles, the Hippo and various other light types They were essentially armoured V-shaped hulls mounted on truck chassis. The next generation was represented by the Buffel, a Unimog chassis with a mine-protected cab and a mine-protected crew compartment mounted on it. These early vehicles did the job, but chassis were overloaded and were not very agile off-road. The Casspir infantry mobility vehicle was developed for the South African Defence Force after 1980;[6] this was the inspiration for the American MRAP program and the basis for some of the program's vehicles.[7][8][9]

In 2004, the TSG/FPI Cougar was designed by a British-led U.S. team, to a U.S. Marine Corps requirement. It became the springboard from which the MRAP program was launched.[10][11] Because there are only two "armor quality" steel mills in the U.S., the Russian-owned Oregon Steel Mills and the International Steel Group (now part of the Indian firm ArcelorMittal), qualified to produce steel armor for the U.S. Department of Defense, it negotiated to ensure enough steel was available to keep pace with production.[12]

MRAP program

The U.S. military's MRAP program was prompted by U.S. casualties from IEDs during the Iraq War.[2]

 
First MaxxPros fielded in Iraq
 
The last vehicle from Iraq returned to U.S. This vehicle arrived at the Port of Beaumont, Texas, on 6 May 2012, and was unloaded from the ship on 7 May 2012.[13]

A number of designs of vehicles from various vendors were deployed as part of the MRAP program. MRAP vehicles usually have "V"-shaped hulls to deflect explosive forces from land mines or IEDs below the vehicle, thereby protecting vehicle and passengers.[14] MRAPs weigh 14 to 18 tons, 9 feet (2.7 m) high, and cost between US$500,000 and US$1,000,000.[14][15]

The following companies that submitted designs:

 
A RG-33 convoy with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) system installed.

There were plans to integrate the Crows II remote weapon station, the Frag Kit 6 anti-EFP armor, and the Boomerang anti-sniper system on many MRAPs in combat.[citation needed]

Vehicle categories

 
American serviceman alongside his Cougar MRAP, Ramadi, Iraq, in 2008

The MRAP class is separated into three categories according to weights and sizes.

Category I (MRAP-MRUV)

 
International MaxxPro Category 1 MRAP

The Mine-Resistant Utility Vehicle (MRUV) is smaller and lighter, designed for urban operations. Category 1 MRAP vehicles ordered or in service:

  • BAE Caiman 4x4 – 2,864 ordered.[17][18][19]
  • BAE OMC RG-31[20]
  • BAE RG-33 4x4[21]
  • Force Protection Cougar H 4x4 – 1,560 vehicles ordered.[22][23]
  • International MaxxPro – 7,474 vehicles ordered.[24][25][26]
  • Textron M1117 Guardian – Removed from competition. As of 18 May 2007, Textron had been notified by the USMC that they will not be receiving any additional orders as part of the MRAP program.[27]
  • Protected Vehicles Inc./Oshkosh Truck Alpha – Although 100 vehicles were initially ordered, Oshkosh was notified by the Marine Corps on 29 June 2007 that it would receive no further orders for the PVI Alpha due to "concern regarding overall vehicle survivability" and other fundamental design deficiencies of an automotive and ergonomic nature, adding that remediation "would require significant redesign".[28][29]

Category II (MRAP-JERRV)

The Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Rapid Response Vehicle (JERRV) is designed for missions including convoy lead, troop transport, ambulance, explosive ordnance disposal and combat engineering.

Category II MRAP vehicles ordered or currently in service:

  • Force Protection Cougar HE 6x6 – 950 vehicles ordered.[22]
  • BAE RG-33L 6x6
  • GDLS RG-31E – 600 vehicles ordered.[30]
  • Thales Australia Bushmaster IMV – Has been removed from the competition as of 7 August 2007. According to a Thales press release, "The Thales Bushmaster vehicle offer for the US MRAP Phase 1 Program was not selected due to an evolving requirement, not due to a lack of marketing or lobbying effort... Thales and Oshkosh remain confident of future potential sales of Bushmaster under ongoing Phases of MRAP in the US."[31]
  • Protected Vehicles Inc Golan – 60 vehicles initially ordered; then, when the Golan was eliminated from the competition, all vehicles were discarded by the Marines.[32]
  • International MaxxPro XL – 16 vehicles ordered.[33]
  • BAE Caiman 6x6 – 16 vehicles ordered.[17]

Category III

Vehicle production

 
Writing on the door of an MRAP reads "This truck saved my life as well as 5 others on 02 Apr 08 at 2300 L(local) in Basrah, IZ. [Signature] CW2, SF"

In 2004, the United States Marine Corps reported that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougar vehicles. In 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decided to increase MRAP vehicle orders .[34] On 8 May 2007, Gates announced that acquisition of MRAPs was the Department of Defense's highest priority[35] for fiscal year 2007; $1.1 billion was earmarked for MRAP.[12] A 2008 GAO report found that Marine combat planners had delayed "an urgent request in 2005 for 1,169 MRAPs",[36] primarily because then-Commandant General Michael Hagee wanted to preserve funding for up-armoring Humvees, believing they were the quickest way to protect Marines from roadside bomb threats.[37]

In late 2007, the Marine Corps planned to replace all Humvees in combat zones with MRAP vehicles, although that changed.[38][39][40][22] As armored vehicles were considered an "urgent need" in Afghanistan, the MRAP program was primarily funded under an "emergency war budget".[41]

Originally, Brig. General Michael Brogan was in charge of the Marine MRAP program; he was succeeded by Brig. General Frank Kelley, Commander, United States Marine Corps Systems Command.[42][43] The Army MRAP program was managed by Kevin Fahey, U.S. Army Program Executive Officer for Combat Support & Combat Service Support.[44][45]

2007

In 2007, the Pentagon ordered about 10,000 MRAPs at a cost of over $500,000 each, and planned to order more MRAPs.[34]

Partial list of January–July 2007 orders under the MRAP program:

  • On 30 January 2007, FPI received an order for two Cougar H and two Cougar HE vehicles for testing and evaluation by the USMC for the MRAP program.[46]
  • On 14 February 2007, the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a $67.4 million delivery order for 65 Category I Cougar H vehicles and 60 Category II Cougar HE vehicles,[47] as well as a $55.4 million delivery order 15 Category I BAE RG-33 vehicles, and 75 Category II BAE RG-33L vehicles, built in York, Pennsylvania.
  • On 24 April 2007, the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a $481.4 million order with Force Protection for 300 Category I Cougar H vehicles and 700 Category II Cougar HE vehicles.[22]
  • On 31 May 2007, the Marine Corps Systems Command ordered 1200 Category I International MaxxPros at a cost of $623 million.[24]
  • On 1 June 2007, FPI received an order for 14 Category III Buffalo vehicles from the Marine Corps Systems Command. The contract is worth an approximate $11.9 million and is scheduled for completion by spring 2008.[46]
  • On 19 June 2007, the Navy placed an order on behalf of the Marine Corps and Army for 395 Category I, 60 Category II Force Protection Cougars at a cost of $221 million, and for 16 Category II International MaxxPro XLs for the sum of $8 million.[48]
  • On 28 June 2007, amended 16 July 2007, BAE Systems received a $235.8 million order for 16 RG-33 Category I patrol vehicles, 239 RG-33L Category II vehicles, 170 RG-33 Category I variants for the United States Special Operations Command, out of their total allotment of 333 vehicles, and 16 RG-33L Category II Ambulance variants, which are the first vehicles in the competition specifically listed for the ambulance role.[49]
  • On 13 July 2007, Stewart & Stevenson (Armor Holdings) received an order for 1,154 Category I and 16 Category II MRAP vehicles from the Marine Corps Systems Command. The vehicles are for delivery by February 2008 and the order is worth $518.5 million.[17]
  • On 20 July 2007, IMG received an additional order for 755 I MaxxPro MRAP vehicles.[50]
  • On 6 August 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems Canada received an order for 600 MRAP Category II RG-31 vehicles. The contract is worth $338.7 million. Manufacturing done by the Demmer Corporation of Lansing, Michigan, in addition to BAE OMC of Benoni, South Africa. Deliveries completed by March 2008.[51][52]
  • On 10 August 2007, the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a $69.8m order with Force Protection for 25 Category 1 Cougar H vehicles and 100 Category II Cougar HE vehicles.[53]
  • On 18 October 2007, the Pentagon placed additional orders for one thousand Category I vehicles from IMG (worth $509 million), 533 Category I and 247 Category II vehicles from Force Protection (worth $377 million), and 399 standard Category II, 112 ambulance-configured Category II RG-33L vehicles (worth $278 million) from BAE Systems. BAE also received a separate $44 million order for 89 RG33 Mod 5 (Category I) vehicles, for the U.S. Special Operations Command. GDLS and Armor Holdings were informed that they would receive no further orders in the MRAP program.[54][55]
  • On 18 December 2007, the U.S. military ordered 1,500 Category I MaxxPros (worth $1.12 billion) from Navistar, 600 Category II vehicles ($645 million) from BAE, 668 Category II vehicles (worth $458 million) from Armor Holdings (though BAE), and 178 Category I and 180 Category II Cougars ($378 million)from Force Protection.[56]

2008

  • On 14 March 2008, the U.S. military ordered 1,024 Category II Caiman's from BAE (worth $481.8 million), 743 Category I MaxxPros from Navistar ($410.7 million), and special command vehicles and ambulances from BAE ($234 million).[57]
  • On 17 July 2007, the U.S. Marine Corps System Command ordered 773 RG31 Category I MRAPs ($552M) from General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for delivery by April 2009.[58]
  • On 19 June 2007 the U.S. Army ordered an additional 44 BAE RG-31 Mk 5 vehicles and an additional 369 M1117 ASVs.[48]

MRAP Armor Weight Reduction Spiral (MAWRS) Program resulted in armor technologies 40 percent lighter, with technologies fielded on more than 10,000 MRAP vehicles.  The program was led by the Army Research Laboratory and MAWRS was fielded on MRAP vehicles in 2008.[59]

Forecasting the need for better and lighter protection from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), ARL developed aggressive weight reduction goals in MRAP vehicles and set out to demonstrate practical technology options by the end of FY08.[60]

The program's combined technical approach was to exploit computing and terminal effects experimentation to scale known technologies for the defeat of lED threats, understand the most viable armor mechanisms for efficient penetrator defeat, and then introduce light-weight composites, new materials and enhanced ballistic mechanisms to reduce the add-on weight of final armor packages.[60]

The ARL's MAWRS program was recognized by U.S. Army Materiel Command as the "Top Ten Great Inventions of 2008."[61]

2009

[inconsistent]

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was awarded a $1,064.46 million firm-fixed-priced delivery order under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract W56HZV-09-D-0111 to exercise an option for 1,700 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles. A similar Army contract for 1,700 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles was valued at a further $1,063.7 million.[62] By 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense had spent $20 billion on the MRAP program.[63] Total MRAP program expenditure with final deliveries was expected to be $48.5 billion (FY10-11).[14]

Criticism

The MRAP program has been criticized for its high, nearly $50 billion cost,[14] the potential logistical difficulties due to high fuel consumption and varied designs, a greater disconnection between troops and the local population due to MRAPs' massive size and menacing appearance conflicting with current counter-insurgency (COIN) strategy, and unclear disposal. In 2007, it was unknown what the U.S. military would do with MRAPs following its withdrawal from Iraq, since they are expensive to transport and operate.[64][65] MRAP funding has pulled money away from other tactical vehicle programs, most noticeably the Humvee replacement, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, which has been delayed by two years.[66]

According to Army Times, troops openly wonder about the design of some MRAP versions. One question centers around the inwards-facing design of the rear seats, given that an outward-facing design would have allowed troops to fire their weapons through ports, which some versions even lacked. The height and steepness of the dropdown stairs at the rear of some versions was observed to make exiting the vehicle dangerous. Also, troops riding in the rear can easily hit their heads on the ceiling while bouncing around in rough terrain, thereby engendering the risk of serious brain and spinal injuries.[67]

Earlier reports had stated that the MRAP had been well received, with US troops stating that they would rather be hit by an IED in an MRAP than in a Humvee.[68][69]

Rollovers and electric shock

 
A Caiman after rolling into a ditch

A report dated 13 June 2008 by the 'Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned' indicated concerns about MRAP vehicles rolling over in combat zones. The V-shaped hulls of the MRAP give it a higher center of gravity, and the weight of the MRAP can cause the badly built or poorly maintained roads in rural Iraq or Afghanistan to collapse. Of the 66 MRAP accidents between 7 November 2007 and 8 June 2008, almost 40 were due to rollovers caused by bad roads, weak bridges, or driver error. In many of the rollovers, troops were injured. However, in two separate incidents, five soldiers were killed by rolling over into a canal, thereby becoming trapped underwater with no means of escape. The report said 75% of all rollovers occurred in rural areas, often where roads had been built above grade with an adjacent ditch or canal.

The report also raised concerns associated with MRAP vehicles snagging on low-hanging power lines in Iraq or its antennas getting close enough to create an electric arc, which may lead to the electrocution of the passengers. The person located in the gunner's hatch is at the highest risk.[67][70]

Effectiveness

 
Cougar MRAP hit by a large IED in Iraq. All crew survived

The MRAP may not be sufficiently effective against Explosively Formed Penetrators (EFP), which use an explosive charge to propel a specially shaped metal plate at high velocity while simultaneously deforming it into an armor-piercing projectile. Use of EFPs in the Iraq war more than doubled in 2006, and as of 2007 was expected to continue to increase.[71][72] In 2007, 11 percent of all roadside bomb fatalities were due to EFPs.[73] In 2007, the Marines had estimated that the use of the MRAP could reduce casualties in Iraq due to IED attacks by as much as 80 percent.[74]

The MRAP weakness was addressed by the next-generation MRAP II. As an interim solution, the military installed a variant of the Humvee's IED defeating Frag Kit 6 armor, which adds significant weight, as well as width to the already large and heavy vehicle.[43] In July 2008, the U.S. military reported the number of EFP attacks had dropped by 70 percent.[75]

On 19 January 2008, a 3rd Infantry Division U.S. Army soldier operating as the exposed turret gunner, was killed in a Navistar MaxxPro MRAP vehicle by an ANFO IED estimated at 600 lb (270 kg).[76] It is unknown whether the gunner was killed by the explosion or by the vehicle when it rolled over after the blast. The vehicle's v-hull was not compromised. The crew compartment also appeared to be uncompromised, and the three other crew members inside the vehicle survived; one with a shattered left foot, a broken nose and several broken teeth; one with a fractured foot; and the third physically unharmed.[76][77][78][79]

Although this was reported as the first MRAP combat death, later reports stated that three soldiers had been killed by IEDs in RG-31s and two by EFPs in Buffalos before this incident.[80] On 6 May 2008, eight soldiers had been reported killed in the thousands of MRAPs in Iraq, according to the news service Knight Ridder.[81] In June 2008, USA Today reported that roadside bomb attacks and fatalities were down almost 90% partially due to MRAPs. "They've taken hits, many, many hits that would have killed soldiers and Marines in unarmored Humvees", according to Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[82]

Maj. General Rick Lynch, who commanded a division in Baghdad, told USA Today the 14-ton MRAPs have forced insurgents to build bigger, more sophisticated bombs to knock out the vehicles. Those bombs take more time and resources to build and set up, which gives U.S. forces a better chance of catching the insurgents in the act and stopping them.[82] According to Marinetimes.com, the Taliban was also focusing their efforts away from anti-materiel IEDs and more toward smaller anti-personnel bombs that target soldiers on patrol.[83] In 2014, the US acknowledged that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was operating an advanced armored personnel carrier captured in Iraq.[84]

The MRAP program is similar to the United States Army's Medium Mine Protected Vehicle program.[85]

Logistics

 
Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAP) are offloaded from the Military Sealift Command roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) onto the pier.

The MRAP program's lack of a common design presents a potential wartime logistic challenge,[43] but others saw the diversity of MRAP vehicles as an advantage.[86] The vehicle's weight and size severely limits its mobility off main roads, in urban areas, and over bridges,[87] as 72 percent of the world's bridges cannot hold the MRAP.[88] Its heft restricts transport by C-130 cargo aircraft or amphibious ships. Three MRAP vehicles (or five Oshkosh M-ATVs) fit in a C-17 aircraft, and airlifting is expensive, at $150,000 per vehicle, according to estimates by the U.S. Transportation Command.[89]

The US Air Force contracted several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 heavy-cargo aircraft, which became a familiar sight above cities such as Charleston, South Carolina, where some MRAPs are produced.[90] For comparison, sealifting costs around $13,000 per vehicle, but takes 3–4 weeks for the vehicle to arrive in theater.[91] In December 2007, the Marine Corps reduced its request from 3,700 vehicles to 2,300.[40] and the Army also reassessed its MRAP requirements in Iraq.[92][93] In January 2010, 400 were flown into Afghanistan, increasing to 500 a month in February, but the goal of 1,000 a month was scaled back, because of difficulties in distribution and training drivers.[89]

Models

MRAP II

 
A member of the United States Air Force stands in front of an MRAP in Southwest Asia.
 
M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) mounted on a U.S. Army M-ATV
 
Caiman MRAPs and a Textron M1117 in Iraq
 
Mobile Land Systems Caprivi Mk3 MRAP

On 31 July 2007, the Marine Corps Systems Command launched an MRAP II pre-solicitation, to develop a new vehicle that offers a higher level of protection than the current MRAP vehicles, particularly from threats such as explosively formed penetrators.[94] While the Frag Kit 6 was designed to meet the threat of EFPs, the MRAP II competition's purpose was to find a vehicle that did not need the upgrade kit. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory worked to ensure the technologies used in Frag Kit 6 would be available to MRAP II designers. The 2007 solicitation asked to give the Joint Program Management Office greater flexibility.[95][96]

Initial testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds disqualified vehicles that didn't meet requirements. Competitors who were rejected included Force Dynamics (reinforced Cougar), GDLS Canada (upgraded BAE OMC RG-31), Navistar subsidiary IMG (upgraded MaxxPro), Textron's upgraded M1117, and Protected Vehicles, Inc's upgraded Golan vehicle, with improved side doors and different armor.[97] Blackwater USA (Grizzly APC with Ares EXO Scale appliqué armor) was later disqualified due to a limited amount of armor in the frontal area of the vehicle.

The two qualified designs were an upgraded Caiman, originally designed by Armor Holdings which was later acquired by BAE Systems, and the Bull, a combined effort between Ideal Innovations Inc, Ceradyne and Oshkosh. Both of the designs weighed 40,000 lb or more.

According to the Army Times in August 2007, the Pentagon had already decided to buy first-generation 14- to 24-ton MRAP I vehicles with extra Frag Kit 6-derived armor, not the 30-ton MRAP II vehicles, when placing its final MRAP orders at the end of summer, after a field commander's report.[98] The paper also reported that, in addition, the Pentagon may buy some shorter, lighter MRAPs in their final batch. A senior Pentagon official told them that "the roads are caving in" under the weight of MRAPs and "We want it to weigh less than it weighs now".[99]

Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle

In 2010 Textron presented the Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle (SCTV), a protective capsule that can increase Humvee survivability to MRAP levels while significantly improving mobility; the modifications come in five kits, but all five need to be installed before the vehicle can be properly called an SCTV. The vehicle features a monocoque V-shaped hull and angled sides to help deflect rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) with scalable levels of protection. It has greater engine power, replacing the 6.5 liter diesel engine with a Cummins 6.7 liter diesel and Allison 6-speed transmission, as well as a stronger suspension, improved brakes, higher ground clearance, and many other modifications. The U.S. military have however preferred the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

Main article: Joint Light Tactical Vehicle

Vehicles built as part of the MRAP program are often criticized for their bulk, which limits their ability to maneuver. The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is designed to provide the same protection as an MRAP vehicle with lower weight and greater maneuverability.

In 2015, Oshkosh was awarded a contract to produce up to 49,100 vehicles for the US Army and Marine Corps based on its successful MRAP All terrain vehicle design.

Post-war applications

With the end of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, there was some question as to what to do with MRAPs, as they were designed specifically for asymmetric warfare. The Army decided they would keep them in some sort of service post-war. Of the approximately 20,000 MRAPs in service, 30 percent (6,000) will stay in brigade combat teams as troop transports and route clearance vehicles, 10 percent (2,000) will be used for training, and 60 percent (12,000) will go into storage. MRAPs are to be superseded by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle when it enters service in 2016. It still may be used until 2022, when the JLTV is in use in sufficient numbers.[100]

On 1 October 2012, the Pentagon officially closed the MRAP production line. As of that date, 27,740 MRAP vehicles of all types had rolled off the assembly lines of seven manufacturers, and 12,726 vehicles were still in the Afghanistan theater of operations, about 870 were sold to foreign militaries, with 700 on foreign order.[101]

In early July 2012, five MRAP vehicles were delivered to the 2nd Infantry Division in the Korean Peninsula. The 2ID tested over 50 vehicles to see how they would be used by American troops in the region and if their capabilities were right for Korea to protect against mines buried along the Korean Demilitarized Zone. In addition to force protection, the MRAPs provided a platform for "mission command-on-the-move" to give commanders communications and command-and-control capabilities while moving across the battlefield. Most, if not all, of the MRAPs delivered in Korea were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and were refurbished in the U.S. Previous combat experiences would determine how to best use the vehicles in South Korea. Integration into 2ID formations was to take less than a year, with positioning on the front line the following year.[102]

U.S. military officials said the MRAPs were brought in to determine whether they would enhance their ability "to preserve peace and deter aggression on the Korean peninsula." North Korean military officials claimed they would be used to safely cross the DMZ to mount an all-out attack on the North, and said the forward deployment of such military hardware disturbed peace and stability in the region. However, by August 2013, the 2ID had decided not to utilize the over 80 MRAPs on the peninsula. They determined the vehicles were "not suitable for maneuver battalions to use" and that there are no plans to add MRAPs to their fleet in the foreseeable future. The vehicles were returned to the Army fleet management system for use in more suitable regions.[103]

In 2013 the U.S. government was looking to sell about 2,000 out of the 11,000 MRAPs it has in Afghanistan. The logistical and financial task of bringing all the vehicles back to the U.S., or destroying some in-country, is too great and foreign buyers are sought to take them. Several countries have reportedly shown interest, but none have signed agreements. The cost of buying them would include shipping them out of Afghanistan themselves.[104]

If the MRAPs cannot be sold to allies, U.S. forces will have to resort to destroying the vehicles before they leave the country. The quantities of MRAPs have been ruled as "in excess" of the needs of the U.S. military and would cost $50,000 per vehicle to ship them out of the country, and they won't be given to the Afghan National Security Forces because they can't maintain them or operate their electronic systems. The cost of destroying them would be $10,000 per vehicle.[105]

In September 2014, the U.S. approved a $2.5 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates Army for over 4,500 surplus U.S. MRAPs for increased force protection, conducting humanitarian assistance operations, and protecting vital international commercial trade routes and critical infrastructure. 1,150 vehicles were Caimans.[106]

US Government approved transferring 930 MRAP vehicles to Egypt using the Excess Defense Articles Grant Program. The MRAP vehicles were given for free and Egypt had to pay shipment from Sierra Army Depot in California to Egypt and refurbishment.

Pakistan also requested MRAPs through the Excess Defense Articles program. It was offered to buy them and transport from Afghanistan to Pakistan. However US government rejected the offer. Pakistan had to buy 200 brand new MRAPs.

The Defense Department is expected to send 250 MRAPs to Iraq to bolster the Iraqi National Security Forces against Islamic State militants. Iraqi forces were equipped with MRAPs after the U.S. withdrawal in 2011, but many were captured by ISIL during the June 2014 Northern Iraq offensive, and subsequently destroyed later by American air strikes. The vehicles will likely be transferred, rather than sold, as excess defense articles and be drawn from the U.S. stock of 1,500 MRAPs stored in Kuwait.[107] Of the 250 vehicles, 225 will go to Iraqi Security Forces, while 25 will be given to Kurdish Peshmerga forces.[108]

In 2015 around 20 MRAPs were donated to the African Union mission in Somalia. Uzbekistan received 308 MRAP vehicles.

NATO allied countries also acquired surplus MRAPs. Polish Special Forces received 45 M-ATV vehicles. Croatia received 212 Oshkosh M-ATV. These vehicles were transferred within the framework of the Excess Defense Articles programme.

In 2022, the U.S. government sent 40 MaxxPro MRAP vehicles to Ukraine as part of a package of military aid under Presidential Drawdown Authority. On October 4, 2022 the U.S. approved the provision of a further 200 MaxxPro MRAPs to Ukraine.

Post-war reductions

As of September 2013, the U.S. Marine Corps had 3,700–3,800 MRAP vehicles and planned to reduce their inventory to 1,200–1,300 due to sequestration budget cuts,[109] but then increased that number to 2,500 vehicles in May 2014.[110]

In 2013, the U.S. government planned to keep about 5,600 of 8700 M-ATVs, with some 250 vehicles for U.S. Special Operations Command.[111] From 2007 to 2011, the Army bought about 9,000 Navistar MaxxPro vehicles and planned to keep only about 3,000.[112][113]

Following the drawdown from Afghanistan by the end of 2014, the U.S. Army will reduce its total MRAP fleet to 8,000 vehicles.[104] The Army plans to divest 7,456 vehicles and retain 8,585. Of the total number of vehicles the Army is to keep, 5,036 are to be put in storage, 1,073 used for training and the remainder spread across the active force. The M-ATV will be kept the most at 5,681 vehicles, as it is smaller and lighter than other MRAPs for off-road mobility. The other most retained vehicle will be the MaxxPro Dash with 2,633 vehicles and 301 Maxxpro ambulances; other MRAPs such as the Cougar, Caiman, and larger MaxxPros will be disposed.[114] They estimated in 2014 "it will need to spend $1.7 billion in supplemental wartime dollars over the next several years to modernize and retain 8,585 mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, while divesting itself of another 7,456 MRAPs it no longer needs."[115]

On 12 May 2016 the first shipment of MRAP vehicles from the United States arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian military. The delivery is the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the U.S. is transferring to Egypt. This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.[116] The equipment is being provided under the US Department of Defense's Excess Defense Articles grant program.[117]

Law enforcement use

See also: Law Enforcement Support Office
 
MRAP in use with the Federal Bureau of Investigation

The United States Department of Homeland Security Rapid Response Teams used MRAPs to assist people affected by hurricanes in 2012,[118] and to pull destroyed government vehicles onto the street so they could be towed.[119] The Federal Bureau of Investigation used an MRAP-type vehicle in a child kidnapping case in Midland, Alabama, in 2013.[120]

The Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency is tasked with off-loading 13,000 MRAPs to 780 domestic law enforcement agencies on waiting lists for vehicles. The DLA does not transfer property to the agencies, so the vehicles are allocated to the agencies with costs picked up by them or the state, while the vehicles remain the property of the Defense Department. To receive an armored vehicle, a requesting agency has to meet certain criteria, including justification for use (such as for shooting incidents, SWAT operations and drug interdiction), geographical area and multi-jurisdiction use, the ability to pay for repairs and maintenance, and security and restricted access to the vehicle.[121]

Law enforcement agencies in the U.S. can acquire MRAP vehicles through the Law Enforcement Support Office, which redistributes no longer needed military equipment to state and municipal agencies. Some police departments have acquired surplus MRAPs with no transfer costs or fees. Domestic agencies plan to use them in disaster relief roles, as they can go through flooded areas unlike normal police armored vehicles, and provide security in response to terrorist threats.[122] Some MRAPs used by police forces have the turret removed and are repainted black.[123]

The use of MRAPs by law enforcement is controversial and is a major factor of militarization of police. The American Civil Liberties Union has voiced concerns about militarization of police and argues that the military hardware could escalate violent situations. Many MRAPs have been obtained by small police forces that handle very few incidents that would necessitate their use. Though the MRAPs are obtained for free, the drawbacks are weight (as much as 18 tons), low fuel efficiency, and expensive refitting for law enforcement use, with a closed turret, new seating, loudspeakers, and emergency lights can cost around $70,000.[123] Proponents of police MRAPs argue the lack of major incidents in certain areas does not mean they will never happen, that the protective armor on MRAPs prevent officer casualties that would be sustained in a regular police vehicle, and that MRAPs in police use only fulfill the same role as standard Lenco BearCat armored vehicles and nothing more.

NASA usage

NASA maintains multiple MRAPs for emergency evacuations of Orion spacecraft on launch pads.[124]

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles.
  • Associated Press article about MRAPs in Iraq (9 May 2008)
  • . Archived from the original on 2006-02-28.
  • Global Security
  • The heavyweights take on ballistics
  • Pentagon balked at pleas from officers in field for safer vehicles (USA Today 7-16-07)
  • Troops receive their first MaxxPro MRAPs in Iraq (video)
  • Study Faults Delay of Armored Trucks for Iraq
  • Austrian Armored MRAP design.

January 10, 2023
mrap, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, require, copy, editing, grammar, style, cohesion, tone, spelling, assist, editing, october, 2022, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, this, article, lead, section, short, adequately, summarize, points. For other uses see MRAP disambiguation This article may require copy editing for grammar style cohesion tone or spelling You can assist by editing it October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article October 2022 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MRAP ˈ ɛ m r ae p EM rap is a term for United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device IED attacks and ambushes 1 The United States Department of Defense MRAP program began in 2007 as a response to the increased threat of IEDs during the Iraq War 2 From 2007 until 2012 the MRAP program deployed more than 12 000 vehicles in the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan A Cougar HE MRAP being tested in January 2007 with landmines Production of the first round of MRAP vehicles officially ended in 2012 1 followed by the launch of the Oshkosh M ATV vehicle In 2015 Oshkosh Corporation was awarded a contract to build the Oshkosh L ATV as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle a lighter mine resistant vehicle to replace the Humvee in combat roles and supplement the M ATV 3 The MRAP s high centre of gravity means it has a tendency to roll over easily In one study a majority of the accidents MRAPs were involved in saw the vehicles overturning Contents 1 History 1 1 MRAP program 2 Vehicle categories 2 1 Category I MRAP MRUV 2 2 Category II MRAP JERRV 2 3 Category III 3 Vehicle production 3 1 2007 3 2 2008 3 3 2009 4 Criticism 4 1 Rollovers and electric shock 4 2 Effectiveness 4 3 Logistics 5 Models 5 1 MRAP II 5 2 Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle 5 3 Joint Light Tactical Vehicle 6 Post war applications 6 1 Post war reductions 6 2 Law enforcement use 6 3 NASA usage 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information October 2022 Light armored vehicles designed specifically to resist land mines were first introduced in specialized vehicles in the 1970s by the Rhodesian Army and further developed by South African manufacturers starting in 1974 with the Hippo armored personnel carrier APC 4 5 The first step in SADF was the Bosvark a Unimog fitted with a shallow mine deflecting tub on the chassis to protect the crew Then came the first generation of purpose built vehicles the Hippo and various other light types They were essentially armoured V shaped hulls mounted on truck chassis The next generation was represented by the Buffel a Unimog chassis with a mine protected cab and a mine protected crew compartment mounted on it These early vehicles did the job but chassis were overloaded and were not very agile off road The Casspir infantry mobility vehicle was developed for the South African Defence Force after 1980 6 this was the inspiration for the American MRAP program and the basis for some of the program s vehicles 7 8 9 In 2004 the TSG FPI Cougar was designed by a British led U S team to a U S Marine Corps requirement It became the springboard from which the MRAP program was launched 10 11 Because there are only two armor quality steel mills in the U S the Russian owned Oregon Steel Mills and the International Steel Group now part of the Indian firm ArcelorMittal qualified to produce steel armor for the U S Department of Defense it negotiated to ensure enough steel was available to keep pace with production 12 MRAP program Edit The U S military s MRAP program was prompted by U S casualties from IEDs during the Iraq War 2 First MaxxPros fielded in Iraq The last vehicle from Iraq returned to U S This vehicle arrived at the Port of Beaumont Texas on 6 May 2012 and was unloaded from the ship on 7 May 2012 13 A number of designs of vehicles from various vendors were deployed as part of the MRAP program MRAP vehicles usually have V shaped hulls to deflect explosive forces from land mines or IEDs below the vehicle thereby protecting vehicle and passengers 14 MRAPs weigh 14 to 18 tons 9 feet 2 7 m high and cost between US 500 000 and US 1 000 000 14 15 The following companies that submitted designs Armor Holdings acquired by BAE Systems on 31 July 2007 16 BAE Systems Force Protection Inc FPI General Dynamics Land Systems GDLS General Purpose Vehicles GPV Navistar International Military Group IMG Oshkosh Truck Protected Vehicles Incorporated PVI Textron Marine amp Land Systems A RG 33 convoy with the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station CROWS system installed There were plans to integrate the Crows II remote weapon station the Frag Kit 6 anti EFP armor and the Boomerang anti sniper system on many MRAPs in combat citation needed Vehicle categories Edit American serviceman alongside his Cougar MRAP Ramadi Iraq in 2008 The MRAP class is separated into three categories according to weights and sizes Category I MRAP MRUV Edit International MaxxPro Category 1 MRAP The Mine Resistant Utility Vehicle MRUV is smaller and lighter designed for urban operations Category 1 MRAP vehicles ordered or in service BAE Caiman 4x4 2 864 ordered 17 18 19 BAE OMC RG 31 20 BAE RG 33 4x4 21 Force Protection Cougar H 4x4 1 560 vehicles ordered 22 23 International MaxxPro 7 474 vehicles ordered 24 25 26 Textron M1117 Guardian Removed from competition As of 18 May 2007 Textron had been notified by the USMC that they will not be receiving any additional orders as part of the MRAP program 27 Protected Vehicles Inc Oshkosh Truck Alpha Although 100 vehicles were initially ordered Oshkosh was notified by the Marine Corps on 29 June 2007 that it would receive no further orders for the PVI Alpha due to concern regarding overall vehicle survivability and other fundamental design deficiencies of an automotive and ergonomic nature adding that remediation would require significant redesign 28 29 Category II MRAP JERRV Edit The Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal EOD Rapid Response Vehicle JERRV is designed for missions including convoy lead troop transport ambulance explosive ordnance disposal and combat engineering Category II MRAP vehicles ordered or currently in service Force Protection Cougar HE 6x6 950 vehicles ordered 22 BAE RG 33L 6x6 GDLS RG 31E 600 vehicles ordered 30 Thales Australia Bushmaster IMV Has been removed from the competition as of 7 August 2007 According to a Thales press release The Thales Bushmaster vehicle offer for the US MRAP Phase 1 Program was not selected due to an evolving requirement not due to a lack of marketing or lobbying effort Thales and Oshkosh remain confident of future potential sales of Bushmaster under ongoing Phases of MRAP in the US 31 Protected Vehicles Inc Golan 60 vehicles initially ordered then when the Golan was eliminated from the competition all vehicles were discarded by the Marines 32 International MaxxPro XL 16 vehicles ordered 33 BAE Caiman 6x6 16 vehicles ordered 17 Category III Edit Force Protection Buffalo MRV for mine and IED clearing functionality with 6 seats citation needed Vehicle production EditThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information October 2022 Writing on the door of an MRAP reads This truck saved my life as well as 5 others on 02 Apr 08 at 2300 L local in Basrah IZ Signature CW2 SF In 2004 the United States Marine Corps reported that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougar vehicles In 2007 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decided to increase MRAP vehicle orders 34 On 8 May 2007 Gates announced that acquisition of MRAPs was the Department of Defense s highest priority 35 for fiscal year 2007 1 1 billion was earmarked for MRAP 12 A 2008 GAO report found that Marine combat planners had delayed an urgent request in 2005 for 1 169 MRAPs 36 primarily because then Commandant General Michael Hagee wanted to preserve funding for up armoring Humvees believing they were the quickest way to protect Marines from roadside bomb threats 37 In late 2007 the Marine Corps planned to replace all Humvees in combat zones with MRAP vehicles although that changed 38 39 40 22 As armored vehicles were considered an urgent need in Afghanistan the MRAP program was primarily funded under an emergency war budget 41 Originally Brig General Michael Brogan was in charge of the Marine MRAP program he was succeeded by Brig General Frank Kelley Commander United States Marine Corps Systems Command 42 43 The Army MRAP program was managed by Kevin Fahey U S Army Program Executive Officer for Combat Support amp Combat Service Support 44 45 2007 Edit In 2007 the Pentagon ordered about 10 000 MRAPs at a cost of over 500 000 each and planned to order more MRAPs 34 Partial list of January July 2007 orders under the MRAP program On 30 January 2007 FPI received an order for two Cougar H and two Cougar HE vehicles for testing and evaluation by the USMC for the MRAP program 46 On 14 February 2007 the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a 67 4 million delivery order for 65 Category I Cougar H vehicles and 60 Category II Cougar HE vehicles 47 as well as a 55 4 million delivery order 15 Category I BAE RG 33 vehicles and 75 Category II BAE RG 33L vehicles built in York Pennsylvania On 24 April 2007 the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a 481 4 million order with Force Protection for 300 Category I Cougar H vehicles and 700 Category II Cougar HE vehicles 22 On 31 May 2007 the Marine Corps Systems Command ordered 1200 Category I International MaxxPros at a cost of 623 million 24 On 1 June 2007 FPI received an order for 14 Category III Buffalo vehicles from the Marine Corps Systems Command The contract is worth an approximate 11 9 million and is scheduled for completion by spring 2008 46 On 19 June 2007 the Navy placed an order on behalf of the Marine Corps and Army for 395 Category I 60 Category II Force Protection Cougars at a cost of 221 million and for 16 Category II International MaxxPro XLs for the sum of 8 million 48 On 28 June 2007 amended 16 July 2007 BAE Systems received a 235 8 million order for 16 RG 33 Category I patrol vehicles 239 RG 33L Category II vehicles 170 RG 33 Category I variants for the United States Special Operations Command out of their total allotment of 333 vehicles and 16 RG 33L Category II Ambulance variants which are the first vehicles in the competition specifically listed for the ambulance role 49 On 13 July 2007 Stewart amp Stevenson Armor Holdings received an order for 1 154 Category I and 16 Category II MRAP vehicles from the Marine Corps Systems Command The vehicles are for delivery by February 2008 and the order is worth 518 5 million 17 On 20 July 2007 IMG received an additional order for 755 I MaxxPro MRAP vehicles 50 On 6 August 2007 General Dynamics Land Systems Canada received an order for 600 MRAP Category II RG 31 vehicles The contract is worth 338 7 million Manufacturing done by the Demmer Corporation of Lansing Michigan in addition to BAE OMC of Benoni South Africa Deliveries completed by March 2008 51 52 On 10 August 2007 the Marine Corps Systems Command placed a 69 8m order with Force Protection for 25 Category 1 Cougar H vehicles and 100 Category II Cougar HE vehicles 53 On 18 October 2007 the Pentagon placed additional orders for one thousand Category I vehicles from IMG worth 509 million 533 Category I and 247 Category II vehicles from Force Protection worth 377 million and 399 standard Category II 112 ambulance configured Category II RG 33L vehicles worth 278 million from BAE Systems BAE also received a separate 44 million order for 89 RG33 Mod 5 Category I vehicles for the U S Special Operations Command GDLS and Armor Holdings were informed that they would receive no further orders in the MRAP program 54 55 On 18 December 2007 the U S military ordered 1 500 Category I MaxxPros worth 1 12 billion from Navistar 600 Category II vehicles 645 million from BAE 668 Category II vehicles worth 458 million from Armor Holdings though BAE and 178 Category I and 180 Category II Cougars 378 million from Force Protection 56 2008 Edit On 14 March 2008 the U S military ordered 1 024 Category II Caiman s from BAE worth 481 8 million 743 Category I MaxxPros from Navistar 410 7 million and special command vehicles and ambulances from BAE 234 million 57 On 17 July 2007 the U S Marine Corps System Command ordered 773 RG31 Category I MRAPs 552M from General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for delivery by April 2009 58 On 19 June 2007 the U S Army ordered an additional 44 BAE RG 31 Mk 5 vehicles and an additional 369 M1117 ASVs 48 MRAP Armor Weight Reduction Spiral MAWRS Program resulted in armor technologies 40 percent lighter with technologies fielded on more than 10 000 MRAP vehicles The program was led by the Army Research Laboratory and MAWRS was fielded on MRAP vehicles in 2008 59 Forecasting the need for better and lighter protection from Improvised Explosive Devices IEDs ARL developed aggressive weight reduction goals in MRAP vehicles and set out to demonstrate practical technology options by the end of FY08 60 The program s combined technical approach was to exploit computing and terminal effects experimentation to scale known technologies for the defeat of lED threats understand the most viable armor mechanisms for efficient penetrator defeat and then introduce light weight composites new materials and enhanced ballistic mechanisms to reduce the add on weight of final armor packages 60 The ARL s MAWRS program was recognized by U S Army Materiel Command as the Top Ten Great Inventions of 2008 61 2009 Edit inconsistent Oshkosh Corp Oshkosh Wisconsin was awarded a 1 064 46 million firm fixed priced delivery order under previously awarded firm fixed price contract W56HZV 09 D 0111 to exercise an option for 1 700 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles A similar Army contract for 1 700 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles was valued at a further 1 063 7 million 62 By 2009 the U S Department of Defense had spent 20 billion on the MRAP program 63 Total MRAP program expenditure with final deliveries was expected to be 48 5 billion FY10 11 14 Criticism EditThe MRAP program has been criticized for its high nearly 50 billion cost 14 the potential logistical difficulties due to high fuel consumption and varied designs a greater disconnection between troops and the local population due to MRAPs massive size and menacing appearance conflicting with current counter insurgency COIN strategy and unclear disposal In 2007 it was unknown what the U S military would do with MRAPs following its withdrawal from Iraq since they are expensive to transport and operate 64 65 MRAP funding has pulled money away from other tactical vehicle programs most noticeably the Humvee replacement the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle which has been delayed by two years 66 According to Army Times troops openly wonder about the design of some MRAP versions One question centers around the inwards facing design of the rear seats given that an outward facing design would have allowed troops to fire their weapons through ports which some versions even lacked The height and steepness of the dropdown stairs at the rear of some versions was observed to make exiting the vehicle dangerous Also troops riding in the rear can easily hit their heads on the ceiling while bouncing around in rough terrain thereby engendering the risk of serious brain and spinal injuries 67 Earlier reports had stated that the MRAP had been well received with US troops stating that they would rather be hit by an IED in an MRAP than in a Humvee 68 69 Rollovers and electric shock Edit A Caiman after rolling into a ditch A report dated 13 June 2008 by the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned indicated concerns about MRAP vehicles rolling over in combat zones The V shaped hulls of the MRAP give it a higher center of gravity and the weight of the MRAP can cause the badly built or poorly maintained roads in rural Iraq or Afghanistan to collapse Of the 66 MRAP accidents between 7 November 2007 and 8 June 2008 almost 40 were due to rollovers caused by bad roads weak bridges or driver error In many of the rollovers troops were injured However in two separate incidents five soldiers were killed by rolling over into a canal thereby becoming trapped underwater with no means of escape The report said 75 of all rollovers occurred in rural areas often where roads had been built above grade with an adjacent ditch or canal The report also raised concerns associated with MRAP vehicles snagging on low hanging power lines in Iraq or its antennas getting close enough to create an electric arc which may lead to the electrocution of the passengers The person located in the gunner s hatch is at the highest risk 67 70 Effectiveness Edit Cougar MRAP hit by a large IED in Iraq All crew survived The MRAP may not be sufficiently effective against Explosively Formed Penetrators EFP which use an explosive charge to propel a specially shaped metal plate at high velocity while simultaneously deforming it into an armor piercing projectile Use of EFPs in the Iraq war more than doubled in 2006 and as of 2007 was expected to continue to increase 71 72 In 2007 11 percent of all roadside bomb fatalities were due to EFPs 73 In 2007 the Marines had estimated that the use of the MRAP could reduce casualties in Iraq due to IED attacks by as much as 80 percent 74 The MRAP weakness was addressed by the next generation MRAP II As an interim solution the military installed a variant of the Humvee s IED defeating Frag Kit 6 armor which adds significant weight as well as width to the already large and heavy vehicle 43 In July 2008 the U S military reported the number of EFP attacks had dropped by 70 percent 75 On 19 January 2008 a 3rd Infantry Division U S Army soldier operating as the exposed turret gunner was killed in a Navistar MaxxPro MRAP vehicle by an ANFO IED estimated at 600 lb 270 kg 76 It is unknown whether the gunner was killed by the explosion or by the vehicle when it rolled over after the blast The vehicle s v hull was not compromised The crew compartment also appeared to be uncompromised and the three other crew members inside the vehicle survived one with a shattered left foot a broken nose and several broken teeth one with a fractured foot and the third physically unharmed 76 77 78 79 Although this was reported as the first MRAP combat death later reports stated that three soldiers had been killed by IEDs in RG 31s and two by EFPs in Buffalos before this incident 80 On 6 May 2008 eight soldiers had been reported killed in the thousands of MRAPs in Iraq according to the news service Knight Ridder 81 In June 2008 USA Today reported that roadside bomb attacks and fatalities were down almost 90 partially due to MRAPs They ve taken hits many many hits that would have killed soldiers and Marines in unarmored Humvees according to Adm Michael Mullen chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 82 Maj General Rick Lynch who commanded a division in Baghdad told USA Today the 14 ton MRAPs have forced insurgents to build bigger more sophisticated bombs to knock out the vehicles Those bombs take more time and resources to build and set up which gives U S forces a better chance of catching the insurgents in the act and stopping them 82 According to Marinetimes com the Taliban was also focusing their efforts away from anti materiel IEDs and more toward smaller anti personnel bombs that target soldiers on patrol 83 In 2014 the US acknowledged that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was operating an advanced armored personnel carrier captured in Iraq 84 The MRAP program is similar to the United States Army s Medium Mine Protected Vehicle program 85 Logistics Edit Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles MRAP are offloaded from the Military Sealift Command roll on roll off ship USNS Pililaau T AKR 304 onto the pier The MRAP program s lack of a common design presents a potential wartime logistic challenge 43 but others saw the diversity of MRAP vehicles as an advantage 86 The vehicle s weight and size severely limits its mobility off main roads in urban areas and over bridges 87 as 72 percent of the world s bridges cannot hold the MRAP 88 Its heft restricts transport by C 130 cargo aircraft or amphibious ships Three MRAP vehicles or five Oshkosh M ATVs fit in a C 17 aircraft and airlifting is expensive at 150 000 per vehicle according to estimates by the U S Transportation Command 89 The US Air Force contracted several Ukrainian Antonov An 124 heavy cargo aircraft which became a familiar sight above cities such as Charleston South Carolina where some MRAPs are produced 90 For comparison sealifting costs around 13 000 per vehicle but takes 3 4 weeks for the vehicle to arrive in theater 91 In December 2007 the Marine Corps reduced its request from 3 700 vehicles to 2 300 40 and the Army also reassessed its MRAP requirements in Iraq 92 93 In January 2010 400 were flown into Afghanistan increasing to 500 a month in February but the goal of 1 000 a month was scaled back because of difficulties in distribution and training drivers 89 Models EditMRAP II Edit A member of the United States Air Force stands in front of an MRAP in Southwest Asia M153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station CROWS mounted on a U S Army M ATV Caiman MRAPs and a Textron M1117 in Iraq Mobile Land Systems Caprivi Mk3 MRAP On 31 July 2007 the Marine Corps Systems Command launched an MRAP II pre solicitation to develop a new vehicle that offers a higher level of protection than the current MRAP vehicles particularly from threats such as explosively formed penetrators 94 While the Frag Kit 6 was designed to meet the threat of EFPs the MRAP II competition s purpose was to find a vehicle that did not need the upgrade kit The U S Army Research Laboratory worked to ensure the technologies used in Frag Kit 6 would be available to MRAP II designers The 2007 solicitation asked to give the Joint Program Management Office greater flexibility 95 96 Initial testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds disqualified vehicles that didn t meet requirements Competitors who were rejected included Force Dynamics reinforced Cougar GDLS Canada upgraded BAE OMC RG 31 Navistar subsidiary IMG upgraded MaxxPro Textron s upgraded M1117 and Protected Vehicles Inc s upgraded Golan vehicle with improved side doors and different armor 97 Blackwater USA Grizzly APC with Ares EXO Scale applique armor was later disqualified due to a limited amount of armor in the frontal area of the vehicle The two qualified designs were an upgraded Caiman originally designed by Armor Holdings which was later acquired by BAE Systems and the Bull a combined effort between Ideal Innovations Inc Ceradyne and Oshkosh Both of the designs weighed 40 000 lb or more According to the Army Times in August 2007 the Pentagon had already decided to buy first generation 14 to 24 ton MRAP I vehicles with extra Frag Kit 6 derived armor not the 30 ton MRAP II vehicles when placing its final MRAP orders at the end of summer after a field commander s report 98 The paper also reported that in addition the Pentagon may buy some shorter lighter MRAPs in their final batch A senior Pentagon official told them that the roads are caving in under the weight of MRAPs and We want it to weigh less than it weighs now 99 Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle Edit In 2010 Textron presented the Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle SCTV a protective capsule that can increase Humvee survivability to MRAP levels while significantly improving mobility the modifications come in five kits but all five need to be installed before the vehicle can be properly called an SCTV The vehicle features a monocoque V shaped hull and angled sides to help deflect rocket propelled grenades RPGs with scalable levels of protection It has greater engine power replacing the 6 5 liter diesel engine with a Cummins 6 7 liter diesel and Allison 6 speed transmission as well as a stronger suspension improved brakes higher ground clearance and many other modifications The U S military have however preferred the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Edit Main article Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Vehicles built as part of the MRAP program are often criticized for their bulk which limits their ability to maneuver The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is designed to provide the same protection as an MRAP vehicle with lower weight and greater maneuverability In 2015 Oshkosh was awarded a contract to produce up to 49 100 vehicles for the US Army and Marine Corps based on its successful MRAP All terrain vehicle design Post war applications EditWith the end of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan there was some question as to what to do with MRAPs as they were designed specifically for asymmetric warfare The Army decided they would keep them in some sort of service post war Of the approximately 20 000 MRAPs in service 30 percent 6 000 will stay in brigade combat teams as troop transports and route clearance vehicles 10 percent 2 000 will be used for training and 60 percent 12 000 will go into storage MRAPs are to be superseded by the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle when it enters service in 2016 It still may be used until 2022 when the JLTV is in use in sufficient numbers 100 On 1 October 2012 the Pentagon officially closed the MRAP production line As of that date 27 740 MRAP vehicles of all types had rolled off the assembly lines of seven manufacturers and 12 726 vehicles were still in the Afghanistan theater of operations about 870 were sold to foreign militaries with 700 on foreign order 101 In early July 2012 five MRAP vehicles were delivered to the 2nd Infantry Division in the Korean Peninsula The 2ID tested over 50 vehicles to see how they would be used by American troops in the region and if their capabilities were right for Korea to protect against mines buried along the Korean Demilitarized Zone In addition to force protection the MRAPs provided a platform for mission command on the move to give commanders communications and command and control capabilities while moving across the battlefield Most if not all of the MRAPs delivered in Korea were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and were refurbished in the U S Previous combat experiences would determine how to best use the vehicles in South Korea Integration into 2ID formations was to take less than a year with positioning on the front line the following year 102 U S military officials said the MRAPs were brought in to determine whether they would enhance their ability to preserve peace and deter aggression on the Korean peninsula North Korean military officials claimed they would be used to safely cross the DMZ to mount an all out attack on the North and said the forward deployment of such military hardware disturbed peace and stability in the region However by August 2013 the 2ID had decided not to utilize the over 80 MRAPs on the peninsula They determined the vehicles were not suitable for maneuver battalions to use and that there are no plans to add MRAPs to their fleet in the foreseeable future The vehicles were returned to the Army fleet management system for use in more suitable regions 103 In 2013 the U S government was looking to sell about 2 000 out of the 11 000 MRAPs it has in Afghanistan The logistical and financial task of bringing all the vehicles back to the U S or destroying some in country is too great and foreign buyers are sought to take them Several countries have reportedly shown interest but none have signed agreements The cost of buying them would include shipping them out of Afghanistan themselves 104 If the MRAPs cannot be sold to allies U S forces will have to resort to destroying the vehicles before they leave the country The quantities of MRAPs have been ruled as in excess of the needs of the U S military and would cost 50 000 per vehicle to ship them out of the country and they won t be given to the Afghan National Security Forces because they can t maintain them or operate their electronic systems The cost of destroying them would be 10 000 per vehicle 105 In September 2014 the U S approved a 2 5 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates Army for over 4 500 surplus U S MRAPs for increased force protection conducting humanitarian assistance operations and protecting vital international commercial trade routes and critical infrastructure 1 150 vehicles were Caimans 106 US Government approved transferring 930 MRAP vehicles to Egypt using the Excess Defense Articles Grant Program The MRAP vehicles were given for free and Egypt had to pay shipment from Sierra Army Depot in California to Egypt and refurbishment Pakistan also requested MRAPs through the Excess Defense Articles program It was offered to buy them and transport from Afghanistan to Pakistan However US government rejected the offer Pakistan had to buy 200 brand new MRAPs The Defense Department is expected to send 250 MRAPs to Iraq to bolster the Iraqi National Security Forces against Islamic State militants Iraqi forces were equipped with MRAPs after the U S withdrawal in 2011 but many were captured by ISIL during the June 2014 Northern Iraq offensive and subsequently destroyed later by American air strikes The vehicles will likely be transferred rather than sold as excess defense articles and be drawn from the U S stock of 1 500 MRAPs stored in Kuwait 107 Of the 250 vehicles 225 will go to Iraqi Security Forces while 25 will be given to Kurdish Peshmerga forces 108 In 2015 around 20 MRAPs were donated to the African Union mission in Somalia Uzbekistan received 308 MRAP vehicles NATO allied countries also acquired surplus MRAPs Polish Special Forces received 45 M ATV vehicles Croatia received 212 Oshkosh M ATV These vehicles were transferred within the framework of the Excess Defense Articles programme In 2022 the U S government sent 40 MaxxPro MRAP vehicles to Ukraine as part of a package of military aid under Presidential Drawdown Authority On October 4 2022 the U S approved the provision of a further 200 MaxxPro MRAPs to Ukraine Post war reductions Edit As of September 2013 the U S Marine Corps had 3 700 3 800 MRAP vehicles and planned to reduce their inventory to 1 200 1 300 due to sequestration budget cuts 109 but then increased that number to 2 500 vehicles in May 2014 110 In 2013 the U S government planned to keep about 5 600 of 8700 M ATVs with some 250 vehicles for U S Special Operations Command 111 From 2007 to 2011 the Army bought about 9 000 Navistar MaxxPro vehicles and planned to keep only about 3 000 112 113 Following the drawdown from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 the U S Army will reduce its total MRAP fleet to 8 000 vehicles 104 The Army plans to divest 7 456 vehicles and retain 8 585 Of the total number of vehicles the Army is to keep 5 036 are to be put in storage 1 073 used for training and the remainder spread across the active force The M ATV will be kept the most at 5 681 vehicles as it is smaller and lighter than other MRAPs for off road mobility The other most retained vehicle will be the MaxxPro Dash with 2 633 vehicles and 301 Maxxpro ambulances other MRAPs such as the Cougar Caiman and larger MaxxPros will be disposed 114 They estimated in 2014 it will need to spend 1 7 billion in supplemental wartime dollars over the next several years to modernize and retain 8 585 mine resistant ambush protected vehicles while divesting itself of another 7 456 MRAPs it no longer needs 115 On 12 May 2016 the first shipment of MRAP vehicles from the United States arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian military The delivery is the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the U S is transferring to Egypt This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region 116 The equipment is being provided under the US Department of Defense s Excess Defense Articles grant program 117 Law enforcement use Edit See also Law Enforcement Support Office MRAP in use with the Federal Bureau of Investigation The United States Department of Homeland Security Rapid Response Teams used MRAPs to assist people affected by hurricanes in 2012 118 and to pull destroyed government vehicles onto the street so they could be towed 119 The Federal Bureau of Investigation used an MRAP type vehicle in a child kidnapping case in Midland Alabama in 2013 120 The Department of Defense s Defense Logistics Agency is tasked with off loading 13 000 MRAPs to 780 domestic law enforcement agencies on waiting lists for vehicles The DLA does not transfer property to the agencies so the vehicles are allocated to the agencies with costs picked up by them or the state while the vehicles remain the property of the Defense Department To receive an armored vehicle a requesting agency has to meet certain criteria including justification for use such as for shooting incidents SWAT operations and drug interdiction geographical area and multi jurisdiction use the ability to pay for repairs and maintenance and security and restricted access to the vehicle 121 Law enforcement agencies in the U S can acquire MRAP vehicles through the Law Enforcement Support Office which redistributes no longer needed military equipment to state and municipal agencies Some police departments have acquired surplus MRAPs with no transfer costs or fees Domestic agencies plan to use them in disaster relief roles as they can go through flooded areas unlike normal police armored vehicles and provide security in response to terrorist threats 122 Some MRAPs used by police forces have the turret removed and are repainted black 123 The use of MRAPs by law enforcement is controversial and is a major factor of militarization of police The American Civil Liberties Union has voiced concerns about militarization of police and argues that the military hardware could escalate violent situations Many MRAPs have been obtained by small police forces that handle very few incidents that would necessitate their use Though the MRAPs are obtained for free the drawbacks are weight as much as 18 tons low fuel efficiency and expensive refitting for law enforcement use with a closed turret new seating loudspeakers and emergency lights can cost around 70 000 123 Proponents of police MRAPs argue the lack of major incidents in certain areas does not mean they will never happen that the protective armor on MRAPs prevent officer casualties that would be sustained in a regular police vehicle and that MRAPs in police use only fulfill the same role as standard Lenco BearCat armored vehicles and nothing more NASA usage Edit NASA maintains multiple MRAPs for emergency evacuations of Orion spacecraft on launch pads 124 References Edit a b Pike John Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MRAP Vehicle Program www globalsecurity org Retrieved 20 September 2018 a b More Attacks Mounting Casualties Washington Post 28 September 2007 Gould Joe 8 August 2017 Oshkosh Wins JLTV Award Retrieved 20 September 2018 Lesakeng South African Armour Museum 2012 12 06 Archived from the original on 2013 07 03 Retrieved 2013 06 18 Heitman Helmoed Romer South African Armed Forces Buffalo Publications 1990 ISBN 0 620 14878 0 p 44 Russell Robert W 2009 Does the MRAP meet the U S Army s needs as the primary method of protecting troops from the IED threat PDF Master of Military Art and Science thesis US Army Command and General Staff College Archived PDF from the original on October 9 2012 Mike Guardia 20 November 2013 US Army and Marine Corps MRAPs Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles Osprey Publishing pp 14 ISBN 978 1 78096 255 9 Leon Engelbrecht Fact file Casspir MRAP Retrieved 5 November 2014 An MRAP for India Retrieved 20 September 2018 Cougar MRAP Army Technology Retrieved 5 November 2014 Marine Administrative Message MARADMIN 550 2 Urgent USMC Requirements Generation Process for Operation Enduring Freedom October 16 2002 MARADMIN 533 03 Operation Iraqi Freedom II UUNS Process November 21 2003 MARADMIN 424 04 Operation Iraqi Freedom III UUNS The original concept was to replace Humvee type vehicles with a more robust survivable vehicle when on patrol outside the wire a b Sandra I Erwin April 2007 Surge in vehicle orders calls for unconventional buying methods National Defense Archived from the original on 2014 08 26 MRAP04 Flickr Photo Sharing Flickr 2012 05 07 Retrieved 2013 11 16 a b c d Alex Rogers Oct 2 2012 The MRAP Brilliant Buy or Billions Wasted Time com Retrieved 23 August 2014 Fields Jason 18 August 2014 In Iraq U S is spending millions to blow up captured American war machines Reuters Archived from the original on 21 August 2014 Retrieved 23 August 2014 BAE Systems completes acquisition of Armor Holdings Inc Press release BAE Systems plc 31 July 2007 Retrieved 24 August 2014 a b c MRAP Orders Approach 5 000 marines mil July 13 2007 Archived from the original on 2008 02 05 Armor Holdings Inc Receives 518 Million MRAP Award prnewswire com 2007 07 16 Archived from the original on October 2 2012 U S Marines Order 1 170 MRAPs America DefenseNews com 13 July 2007 dead link MRAP Advance Purchase 2 Oshkosh PVI amp GD Defense Industry Daily 6 Mar 2007 dead link MRAP Survivable Rides Start Rolling Defense Industry Daily February 2007 Archived from the original on March 29 2007 a b c d MRAP Vehicle Order 1 000 Cougars to be Turned Loose Defense Industry Daily 25 April 2007 Cougar Armored Trucks to Stalk Mines on the Battlefield updated Defense Industry Daily 12 Nov 2007 Archived from the original on April 6 2007 a b Contracts for Thursday May 31 2007 US Dept of defense 31 May 2007 Archived from the original on 2014 09 30 U S Orders 1 200 MRAPs 2007 05 31 Archived from the original on 2018 08 08 Retrieved 2007 05 31 DoD Orders 2 400 MRAPs from 3 Firms DefenseNews com 2007 10 18 Archived from the original on 2013 01 03 Textron s M1117 Removed from MRAP Competition Defense Industry Daily 18 May 2007 Pentagon rejects Oshkosh s truck design The Providence Journal projo com 2007 07 29 Archived from the original on September 30 2007 MRAP Another One Bites the Dust Defense Industry Daily Aug 5 2007 pressrelease General Dynamics News August 8 2007 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 MRAP Oshkosh Entries Stalled on 2 Fronts Defense Industry Daily Aug 19 2007 MRAPs on the march Jane s Land Forces News Archived from the original on May 30 2008 U S Marine Corps Awards 8 5 Million Contract for Category II Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MRAP Vehicles to International Military and Government LLC BusinessWire com 19 June 2007 a b Peter Eisler 2007 08 01 The truck the Pentagon wants and the firm that makes it USA Today U S military struggles to adapt to war s top killer USA Today Retrieved 2010 05 13 Tom Vanden Brook 2011 11 16 MRAP whistle blower returning to Marines post USA Today Retrieved 23 August 2014 MRAP whistleblower scores victories in settlement with Marine Corps MarineCorpstimes com 25 September 2014 Christian Lowe 19 October 2007 Marines Urge Caution on MRAP Fielding military com Christian Lowe Dec 11 2007 Another Casualty of the Surge Weekly Standard a b Armored Vehicle Cut Threatens Industry military com Associated Press December 5 2007 Report No D 2009 030 Top Stories dla mil Archived September 27 2011 at the Wayback Machine a b c Frag Kit 6 to go on MRAPs Defense Tech Archived June 16 2010 at the Wayback Machine Mr Kevin M Fahey Program Executive Officer Combat Support amp Combat Service Support Archived 2014 08 26 at the Wayback Machine peocscss army mil PEO CS amp CSS Organization Program Executive Office Combat Support amp Combat Service Support Department of the Army Archived from the original on May 28 2010 Retrieved June 18 2010 a b In the News Force Protection Inc Archived from the original on June 3 2007 MRAP Survivable Rides Start Rolling February 2007 Archived from the original on June 20 2007 a b Army Release Orders for more than 2500 Armored Vehicles 24 June 2007 Archived from the original on 10 October 2017 Retrieved 24 June 2007 BAE s Diverse MRAP Orders Defense Industry Daily Nov 30 2012 More MRAPs Navistar s MaxxPro Maintains the Pole Position Defense Industry Daily Jun 25 2013 General Dynamics News August 8 2007 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 General Dynamics Wins MRAP Orders of Its Own Defense Industry Daily Nov 26 2012 Cougar Armored Trucks to Stalk Mines on the Battlefield updated Defense Industry Daily 12 Nov 2007 Borak Donna Pentagon orders 2 400 armored vehicles Archived from the original on 2007 11 11 USMC Releases New Orders for 2 288 MRAPs 2007 10 19 Archived from the original on 2017 10 10 Retrieved 2007 10 19 Melissa Davis 2007 12 18 Navistar Wins Big MRAP Order TheStreet com Archived from the original on 2008 01 07 Today Reuters com 14 March 2008 dead link General Dynamics to Supply 773 RG 31 MRAP Vehicles to U S Defense Department prnewswire com 17 July 2008 Archived from the original on August 11 2008 PROSPECTIVE TECH INC COLUMBIA MD 2010 12 01 Army Programmatic Environmental Assessment of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected MRAP Vehicle Program Fort Belvoir VA doi 10 21236 ada578517 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help a b US Army Research Laboratory Annual Review 2008 US Army Research Laboratory U S Army Research Laboratory ARL ARNEWS C Todd Lopez Ten best technologies recognized by Army Fort Hood Sentinel Retrieved 2018 08 28 Defense Contracts Listing for 7 31 2009 Militaryindustrialcomplex com 2009 07 31 Donnelly Tom Why Gates is wrong Armed Forces Journal Defense Tech Corps Asks for MRAP Slowdown Archived from the original on October 20 2007 Andrew Krepinevich and Dakota Wood Of IEDs and MRAPs Force Protection In Complex Irregular Operations Archived 2007 10 22 at the Wayback Machine 17 October 2007 1 dead link InsideDefense com NewsStand The Insider 27 September 2007 a b Mitchell Bryan Andrew Scutro Kris Osborn July 3 2008 SF deaths come amid MRAP rollover concerns Three soldiers drowned after RG 31 rolled into canal in Afghanistan The 2d Cavalry Assn News Center A new age in troop protection 1 November 2007 Retrieved 5 November 2014 Vanden Brook Tom 2007 12 16 Long term needs lessen but vehicles still sought USA Today Retrieved 2008 08 03 Fatal MRAP accidents prompt warnings Journal Inquirer Manchester CT Associated Press 24 July 2008 Bryce Robert 2007 01 22 Surge of danger for U S troops Salon com Archived from the original on 2008 06 17 Retrieved 2008 08 03 Vanden Brook Tom 2007 05 31 MRAPs can t stop newest weapon USA Today Retrieved 2008 08 03 Weapons Dealing With EFPs Strategypage com May 21 2008 Biden MRAP Amendment Speech DOC defenseindustrydaily com 2007 03 28 Michaels Jim July 18 2008 EFPs in Iraq drop 70 percent in 3 months Army Times a b Turner Kevin 2008 02 02 Army s new protective vehicle saved soldier s life in Iraq The Florida Times Union Jacksonville com Farrell Stephen 2008 01 22 Hopes for Vehicle Questioned After Iraq Blast The New York Times Retrieved 2010 05 13 Tait Paul 2008 01 22 US suffers first death in new armoured truck Reuters Hopes for NY Times Reporting Questioned After MRAP Story Defense Industry Daily Jan 24 2008 Michael Goldfarb 26 January 2008 MRAP Confusion Weekly Standard New concerns after 2 die in MRAP Military com Archived from the original on June 4 2009 a b Roadside bombs decline in Iraq USA Today 22 June 2008 Dan Lamothe 9 May 2011 New weapons war dogs eyed to fight IEDs Marine Corps Times Gannett Government Media Corporation Archived from the original on 2011 08 26 Retrieved 9 May 2011 Central Command confirms ISIL operating U S armored personnel carriers in Iraq World Tribune 18 August 2014 Archived from the original on 20 August 2014 Retrieved 20 August 2014 US Army 17 000 MRAP Vehicles to Replace Hummers Defense Industry Daily 11 May 2007 Archived May 14 2007 at the Wayback Machine Diversity Adds Depth to MRAP Military com business unit of Monster Worldwide Archived October 23 2007 at the Wayback Machine Armored Vehicle Cut Threatens Industry Military com business unit of Monster Worldwide Washington Pulse nationaldefensemagazine org January 2008 Archived July 5 2008 at the Wayback Machine a b Logistics The Bottleneck Strategyworld com 2010 03 22 Retrieved 2013 11 16 USAF Hires Russian Jets 5 January 2008 Charleston net Archived January 6 2008 at the Wayback Machine Army com Sealift of MRAP vehicles begins Army com Archived December 5 2007 at the Wayback Machine Jeff Schogol 11 December 2007 General Army Will Need Fewer MRAPs Vanden Brook Tom 2007 12 19 Military sets sights on at least 15 000 MRAPs USA Today Retrieved 2008 08 03 USA Issues MRAP II Solicitation Defense Industry Daily 5 August 2007 Marine Corps Systems Command Launches MRAP II Solicitation Archived from the original on 10 October 2017 Retrieved 5 November 2014 FILE 23 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles MRAP II Enhanced Vehicle Competitive 02 Aug 2007 FBO 2075 fbodaily com EFP Mines Ceradyne amp i3 Say Bull 19 December 2007 defenseindustrydaily com DoD won t buy MRAP II sources say Army News Army Times 3 July 2008 Pentagon may buy shorter lighter MRAPs Army News Army Times 17 July 2008 Army Refining Long Term MRAP Plan Military com May 25 2012 Pentagon shuts MRAP production line DoDBuzz com October 1 2012 MRAPs represent new tool on contentious Korean peninsula Stripes com 12 July 2013 MRAP No Good for Korea 2ID Decides Military com 16 August 2013 a b US Looking to Sell Portion of Afghan MRAP Fleet Defensenews com 4 December 2013 U S Must Demolish Thousands of Its Vehicles in Afghanistan DoDBuzz com 14 March 2014 United States approved major contract of MRAP vehicles for UAE Armyrecognition com 27 September 2014 Pentagon to Send 250 MRAPs Back To Iraq to Fight ISIS Defensetech org 12 December 2014 Iraq Kurdish forces incept surplus US MRAPS Archived 2015 04 28 at the Wayback Machine Dmilt com 7 January 2015 Brendan McGarry 26 September 2013 Corps to Industry Prepare for the Worst DoDBuzz com Hope Hodge Seck 1 May 2014 Corps doubles the number of MRAPS it will keep Marine Corps Times Archived from the original on 2014 05 02 Retrieved 2014 06 02 Oshkosh Defense is working on a deal with Saudi Arabia for the sale of M ATV MRAP vehicles Armyrecognition com 29 September 2013 Industry Working To Give the MRAP New Life Defensenews com 21 October 2013 Navistar Pitches New Uses for Old MRAPs DoDBuzz com 23 October 2013 Majority of MRAPs to be scrapped or stored Archived 2020 06 28 at the Wayback Machine Military Times 5 January 2014 Paul McLeary Jan 5 2014 Majority of US MRAPs To Be Scrapped or Stored Defensenews com Archived from the original on January 13 2014 Retrieved 23 August 2014 U S Delivers Armored MRAP Vehicles to Egyptian Military U S Embassy in Egypt May 12 2016 Egypt s military chief of staff heads to US for military cooperation talks TAKFIK NAMATI TV takfiknamati tv Retrieved 20 September 2018 HSI Rapid Response Team saves 14 stranded by Hurricane Isaac Press release U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE 6 September 2012 ICE gives full effort to helping personnel affected by Hurricane Sandy Press release U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE 15 November 2012 Photos of Alabama Bunker Exterior Released FBI 5 February 2013 Archived from the original on 30 October 2013 Retrieved 16 November 2013 Repurposed MRAPs Find New Life in Police Agencies National Defense Magazine April 2014 Archived from the original on 2014 12 02 Preston Benjamin 11 October 2013 Police Are Getting the Military s Leftover Armored Trucks New York Times a b Michael Virtanen 24 November 2013 Spoils of war Police getting leftover Iraq trucks Military Times Retrieved 20 March 2015 Siceloff Steven 18 June 2015 MRAP Rolls Through Pad Evacuation Runs NASA Retrieved 20 September 2018 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mine resistant ambush protected vehicles Associated Press article about MRAPs in Iraq 9 May 2008 United States Marine Corps article Archived from the original on 2006 02 28 Global Security The heavyweights take on ballistics Billions Needed for New Armored Trucks Blast Resistant vs Armored MRAP on Defense Update com International Trucks Plasan Sasa MRAP Pentagon balked at pleas from officers in field for safer vehicles USA Today 7 16 07 Troops receive their first MaxxPro MRAPs in Iraq video Study Faults Delay of Armored Trucks for Iraq Austrian Armored MRAP design Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MRAP amp oldid 1130929672, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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