Plan calls for more armor on MRAPs

[unhappycamper]

Plan calls for more armor on MRAPs
By Tom Vanden Brook - USA Today
Posted : Tuesday Oct 2, 2007 6:13:46 EDT

QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine general in charge of the program to send new armored vehicles to Iraq said the Pentagon suggests adding armor to the sides of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected trucks to protect them from the deadliest type of armor-piercing roadside bomb, the explosively formed projectile.

The armor is a modified version of what the military calls Frag Kit 6.

“I have a solution for EFPs, and I’m going to put it on the trucks I’ve already bought,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan.

The MRAP’s V-shaped hull and raised chassis help protect troops inside the vehicle from the force of makeshift bombs known as improvised explosive devices.

Brogan dismissed concerns from some military contractors — raised in an online discussion — that the added armor would make the vehicles too wide to operate on U.S. highways.

“They’re going into a combat zone,” Brogan said. “So, yeah, they’re going to be wider than would be permitted if you were going to drive up Interstate 95.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/gns_mrap_071002/



uhc comment: At $600,000 a pop we need to add more armor? Am I reading this wrong or do I need more coffee?

[ananda]

1. More armor.. and another 150b for the war..

.. but no money for SCHIP, Katrina survivors, or the
rebuilding of affordable housing for those who would
like to return to NOLA.