The Humvee Is Dead,

long live the L-ATV,

as the Pentagon announces plans to replace the lightweight High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMVV), the main problem with the vehicle was that its light weight left it vulnerable to powerful roadside bombs, increasing the armour meant it was no longer a high speed vehicle due to the increase in weight, so yesterday the Army announced the contract for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program: Oshkosh’s Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle, or L-ATV,

I have to say it, the L-ATV looks to me a lot like a beefed up Humvee in this clip, but there must be a huge difference as it weighs 3 times as much! bad news indeed if they have to be delivered to the battle front by air or boat, but there it is, in the initial contract, Oshkosh will build 17,000 of the L-ATV over the next few years, with 5,500 of those going to the Marine Corps, the total production run of the vehicle is set to be much larger, with the Army looking to replace over 50,000 vehicles currently in service, so I guess all of those Humvees the rich and famous use on the roads will have to be scrapped as they are yesterday's news and deposits put down on the new $250,000 must have take the kids to school vehicle!