While
MMPV is designed for the specific use by combat engineers, MRAP
should offer more capabilities. Yet, it is designed primarily
as a protected vehicle, and this capability comes with a price,
not only in US$, but also in mobility. MRAPs are designed for
aerial mobility inside large military transports, as well as
C-130, (the first production vehicles are expedited to Iraq
by airlift). However, these heavy vehicles will consume excessive
capacity of the limited airlift assets available to US forces.
In fact, a MRAP requires as much space as a Bradley armored
vehicle, and even more space than the Bradley's future successor,
the Mounted Ground Vehicle (MGV).
For the Marines, MRAP poses a serious challenge as it is much
too high for safe accomodation on shipping vessels, therefore
limiting the numbers and use of storage space in the lower decks.
If the military plans to use MRAPs beyond the current conflicts
in Iraq and Afghanistan, they must plan and field enough airlift
and sealift capacity to deploy these heavy vehicles.(more...)
Another consideration is the combat effectiveness
of the vehicle. In practical terms, MRAP is a monster. Noisy,
slow, big and hot, this vehicle is the opposite of modern tactical
vehicle designs. The entire concept is designed for defensive,
rather then active-offensive role, motivating troops to encapsulate
within the relative safety of well protected vehicles, resulting
in less effective control of their surrounding. Therefore, when
hit by an ambush, they would take more time to recover, assemble
and strike back. By no means should troops be unprotected in
such missions, but they should not sacrifice their mobility
or situational awareness either, they should be equipped with
the best combination of protection, mobility and firepower to
gain and maintain the upper hand under all battle conditions.
The heavy armor is offering the safety and security for the
troops inside, offering good visibility of the area through
the surrounding windows, which also have some firing ports and
remotely controlled weapon station on top, enabling the crew
to employ effective counter-fire. However, the vehicle also
poses a big, clear and lucrative target - its noisy engine and
high silhouette are clearly distinguished from a distance. Based
on an automotive system of a heavy truck, its acceleration,
turning radius, negotiating gradient and vertical obstacles
is limited, especially in confined areas and narrow streets
or in situations requiring the vehicle to go off-road. The height,
contributing to the effective IED protection, also restricts
the weapon station's coverage. Fortunately, firing ports installed
on both sides enable the crew to cover this area with their
personal weapons. The high ground clearing and lack of side
doors pose some difficulties for embarkation and dismounting
with full combat loads. (In contrast, the
ASV which has not been selected for MRAP, has doors on both
sides and back, enabling troops to always move in or out of
the vehicle under cover).
