21 Aug 2007
Got this media advisory from DoD:
MRAP Orientation Day
Media are invited to attend an orientation of the Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected vehicle at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 24, 2007. Due to the security requirements to enter Aberdeen Proving Ground, media will need to register with the Army Test and Evaluation Command public affairs office by 5:00 p. m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2007.
Media must arrive at the parking lot of the Target store at 1025 Middleton Road Aberdeen, Maryland 21001 no later than 9:00 a.m. on the morning of August 24, 2007. From that location the Army Test and Evaluation Command will provide transportation to the orientation location. No media vehicles will be allowed to travel onto Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The MRAP orientation will include the opportunity to photograph the vehicles with some restrictions for operational security reasons. Photography will be permitted from designated areas only. Members of the media will be permitted to ride in an MRAP vehicle as part of the orientation.
Media who plan to attend should contact the Army Test and Evaluation Command public affairs office to register at 703-681-2755 by 5:00 p.m. on August 22, 2007.
This sounds fun and interesting. I wish I lived a bit closer so that I could take advantage of some of these sorts of opportunities.
Recently: More U.S. Marine MRAPs Bring Total to 6,415
And from White House Wants $5.3B For 1,520 New MRAPs in ‘08:
This comes to $3.4 million per MRAP, which could jolt lawmakers expecting to pay around $1 million apiece, according to James McAleese, who monitors defense programs for McAleese and Associates, McLean, Va.
Moreover, he said, “There could be some congressional surprise that the $5.3 billion amendment only funds an additional 1,520 vehicles, instead of approximately 4,600 additional vehicles.”
McAleese suggested the operations and maintenance funds in the request could be shifted to procurement, with the support funding coming from future defense budgets.
Just shove those expenses down the road. Or request the money in an emergency bill. Because you didn’t know anyone would ever have to change the oil or rotate the tires, and now it’s an emergency.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Fight fight! 20 quatloos on the hummer!
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:15 am
it’s only a matter of time before insurgents and other assorted nastines just up the bomb size to deal with this new Hardened vehicle then we will get recriminations that the MRAP does not protect soliders enough..
August 22nd, 2007 at 11:29 am
Harley, welcome to the armour arms race. Just because armour can always be defeated does not make it pointless. Having to make larger bombs causes several things: 1) It’s more difficult to make a larger bomb. 2) It’s more difficult to move/emplace a larger bomb. 3) It’s more difficult to hide a larger bomb. 4) RPGs and mortars become less effective. 5) Larger bombs use up explosives stocks faster. 6) The bomb has to explode closer to the vehicle to get a good chance of penetrating the armour. 7) Iran has to redesign their EFPs to penetrate more armour.