Today, there are plenty of military combat vehicles. All of them have their own specific purpose. One of these is the mine-resistant ambush protected or MRAP vehicle. This is believed to be among the most reliable vehicles for troop survival.
MRAP Vehicle – What Is Special About It?
As its name implies, this vehicle is resistant to personnel and anti-tank mines. It does not just withstand those explosive; rather, it also provides excellent survivability for passengers. In fact, it can outperform the 70-ton M-1 main battle tank and the Humvee. Based on the defence specialists, the casualty rate for an MRAP is just 6% in IED blasts as compared to the 15% and 22% for the M-1 Abrams and the Humvee. With this vehicle, soldiers certainly feel safest.
Protecting troops is the main function of this vehicle. The previous models must be improved to maximize its capacity. But this model has design limitations like the lack of protection for air tanks. Apart from that, military groups requested that MRAP vehicles must be fast and more efficient on non-paved roads so it can be a lot easier to manoeuvre.
Another problem associated with the earlier models is providing training for its extensive utility. There are some manufacturers years ago that made training and maintenance a complicated process for users wherein only the field service representatives can do maintenance tasks. As for the training, only an elite few make use of an established program so they can fully educate users on all the vehicle’s capabilities. They also teach users on how to properly operate the features of this vehicle to guarantee long functional lifespan.
Indeed, the leading manufacturers of MRAPs are doing more. They are continuously taking steps to further make it the best in its class. They have obtained ideas from the perceived limitations of older manufacturers and designed training programs for the target users of the said vehicle. The training program is not just established to guarantee proper use but also to make sure that its operators are convenient. Be reminded though that these manufacturers aren’t stopping with training; rather, they came up with a long-term strategy for support through the entire functional lifespan of the vehicle.
Expect that the MRAP vehicle will undergo continuous improvements in the coming years. With more innovative concepts and better technology, the industry strongly believes that the MRAP vehicle will be transformed into a reliable combat vehicle.
