M-TAVs Arrive in Southern Afghanistan

[unhappycamper]

M-TAVs Arrive in Southern Afghanistan
October 26, 2009
American Forces Press Service

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The first mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles designated for southern Afghanistan arrived here, by air transport.

After months of government testing, the Defense Department awarded a contract in June to Oshkosh Corp. to supply an initial order valued at $1.05 billion for more than 2,000 of the vehicles, known as M-ATVs.

"This is a very different environment than Iraq, so as we came in and continued to fight the fight in Afghanistan, we realized it requires a little bit different equipment or modification than what we have," said Lt. Col. Richard Haggerty, the Regional Command South deputy director for acquisitions, logistics and technology.

With an independent suspension system designed for off-road mobility, the M-ATV is built specifically to navigate Afghanistan's rugged landscape.

"The M-ATV really answers some of the challenges of the terrain, high altitudes and the real unevenness of a lot of the terrain out there," Haggerty said.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/army-news/mtavs-arrive-in-southern-afghanistan.html



unhappycamper comment: It takes about 150,000 gallons of gas to fly a C-5 to Afghanistan one way. And if you think the price of these bad boys is $500,000 a pop, I have a bridge I'd like to sell ya.