Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) family of vehicles offers Soldiers highly resilient multimission platforms that can counter threats from small arms fire, underbody mines, rocket-propelled grenades, explosively formed penetrators, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which are responsible for the majority of casualties in overseas contingency operations. The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and the MaxxPro Family of Vehicles are the two main vehicle platforms that make up the Army MRAP enduring fleet. The Armored Personnel Carrier, Weapons Carrier, Convoy Protection Platform, Key Leader Vehicle, Command Post, and Armored Ambulance missions are all carried out by this adaptable family of vehicles.
The Rhodesian Army first adopted light armored vehicles made expressly to withstand land mines in the 1970s. South African manufacturers continued to build these vehicles, beginning in 1974 with the Hippo armored personnel carrier (APC). The Bosvark, a Unimog equipped with a shallow mine-deflecting tub on the chassis to protect the crew, was the SADF's initial step. The Hippo and other light kinds were among the first wave of purpose-built vehicles to appear. In essence, they were truck-mounted V-shaped armored hulls. The Buffel, a Unimog chassis with a mine-protected cab and crew compartment placed on it, served as a representative of the following generation. These early cars served their purpose, but the heavier chassis made them less maneuverable off-road. After 1980, the South African Defence Force created the Casspir infantry mobility vehicle, which served as the model for several of the MRAP program's vehicles and served as inspiration for the American effort.
With the aid of asymmetrical strategies, MRAP equips light forces with protected mobility and mounted weapons to conduct wide-area security. When the role shifts from decisive operations to stability, they give Brigade Combat Teams a quick motorization capability or handle rear-area security during decisive operations. The Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, which cost $41.6 billion, has so far played a significant role in the U.S. military. Because it is not only bulletproof, as its name implies, but also protected against the explosion of roadside bombs, it was a crucial instrument in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Having said that, it is intriguing to observe that there are many different kinds of these vehicles for a variety of missions, even though they all have a V-shaped design that is well-suited for withstanding explosives.
Cost: $41.6 billion
Country: United States
