Well as I promised I finally made it to my office at the base and found my october 2007 copy of Defense Technology International magazine.
There are 3 catgories within the MRAP program
Category 1: 7-15 tons, 4 passengers and 2 crew. Primary duty is urban transport
Category 2: 15-25 tons, up to 8 passengers and 2 crew Primary duty is road escort, ambulance and bomb disposal
Category 3: 25 tons 4 passengers and 2 crew primary duty bomb disposal. (Marines and Navy are the only branches that have ordered this category)
Right now there are 7 different versions and or manufacturers of the type 1. There are 6 different type 2's and only one type 3 called the buffalo.
They range in price from $475,000 to $856,000 a copy depending on the manufacturer and configuration.
There is plenty more, the link to the article is http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aw/dti1007/
Baddboy
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3 comments:
I had several friends in the service after I got out of high school (a LONG time ago), about the same time as the Bradley was first entering general service. I know that the scuttle-butt then (to coin a Navy term) was that they were fire-traps on the battle field, or would sink like a stone upon crossing the smallest river or stream.
Neither prooved true, in the end. My point is that the Bradley raised questions about servicability among the troops, just like any other new piece of equipment that troops know they will trust their very lives with in combat conditions.
In this case, though... I haven't heard the same scuttle-butt. I admit that I am out-of-the-loop that I was in in 1986-87, but the troops really seem to think this is the cat's ass. The vehicles draw crowds of admirers everywhere they go. I don't recall the Bradley doing that...
Also, look at the rolls the Hummer has filled since its inception and implementation. Anyone argueing that the MRAP is to limited in its design and application is not checking his or her facts, in my opinion.
I haven't seen one up close and personal but they are impressive in their design and function. In my opinion if their only function is to protect troops in transport from road side bombls so they can take the fight to the enemy then the program is worth every dollar.
Old Soviet military acquisition doctrine said that every peice of gear that their troops used for transportation had to have a multi-role purpose and at times that became a limiting factor ie. the Hind helicopter. Although an attack helicopter by primary design and armored to the hilt it still had a passenger compartment making it heavier and bulkier thus making it a larger, slower target. The Russian military has since abandoned that philosophy and now they have a new attack helicopter (I forget its designation) that rivals the US Apache and in some ways looks alot like the Comanche program that the US just axed not too long ago.
Lesson learned: If the troops can't get to the enemy, they can't engage the enemy. The MRAP program was long overdue and I hope they continue to improve upon it for sure.
Baddboy
I haven't seen one up close and personal but they are impressive in their design and function. In my opinion if their only function is to protect troops in transport from road side bombls so they can take the fight to the enemy then the program is worth every dollar.
Old Soviet military acquisition doctrine said that every peice of gear that their troops used for transportation had to have a multi-role purpose and at times that became a limiting factor ie. the Hind helicopter. Although an attack helicopter by primary design and armored to the hilt it still had a passenger compartment making it heavier and bulkier thus making it a larger, slower target. The Russian military has since abandoned that philosophy and now they have a new attack helicopter (I forget its designation) that rivals the US Apache and in some ways looks alot like the Comanche program that the US just axed not too long ago.
Lesson learned: If the troops can't get to the enemy, they can't engage the enemy. The MRAP program was long overdue and I hope they continue to improve upon it for sure.
Baddboy
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