A group of soldiers has been busy testing a series of high-tech military concept vehicles outfitted with remote weapons systems, night-vision capabilities and enough strength to sustain the concussion of a roadside bomb.
The vehicles, while only in the concept stage, are part of the Army's $60 million program to modernize its aging tactical fleet for the challenges of today's military missions.
"What we're running with now has become antiquated," said Tim Connor, a Defense Department contractor who is overseeing the project.
He said the soldiers at Fort Lewis got their hands on two utility trucks and two maneuver sustainment vehicles Wednesday "to play with them and try to break 'em."
Unlike traditional Humvees, which often don't have enough protection for the dangers soldiers in
Iraq, the concept vehicles are equipped with remote weapons systems, night-vision capabilities and diesel-electric hybrid engines. They also include ballistics glass, video cameras and touch-screen controls.
This is a first step in a crazy sized procurement to replace the HMMV, etc. after lessons learend from Iraq: lightly armored vehicles are so much lunch in urban situations...hmm. That sounds familiar for some reason. Maybe it was something learned before? In another war?
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