International M1224 MaxxPro MRAP | |
---|---|
Type | Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle |
Service history | |
Used by | See operators |
Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Syrian Civil War War in Iraq (2013–2017) Russo-Ukrainian War |
Production history | |
Designer | International Truck/Plasan |
Designed | 2007 |
Manufacturer | International Truck |
Produced | 2007–present |
No. built | 9,000 [1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | CAT I: 28,000–29,500 lbs (12.7–13.4 t) CAT II: 30,000–32,000 lbs (13.6–14.5 t) [2] |
Length | 21.17–23.5 ft (6.5–7.2 m) |
Width | 8.25 ft(2.5 m) |
Height | 10 ft (3 m) |
Crew | 3–7 |
Engine | 9.3L, 570 cubic inches MaxxForce D9.3I6 I6 [3] 330 hp (250 kW) @ 2,100 rpm; 375 hp (280 kW) in Plus and Dash variants |
Power/weight | 18.9–20 hp/US ton |
Payload capacity | 3,650–11,150 lbs (1.6–5 t) |
Transmission | Allison 3000 5-speed automatic |
Suspension | 4×4, wheeled semi-elliptical leaf springs |
Ground clearance | 14" (0.35 m) |
Steering system | 58–68 ft (18–21 m) turning circle |
The International M1224 MaxxPro MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) is an armored fighting vehicle designed by American company Navistar International's subsidiary Navistar Defense along with the Israeli Plasan Sasa, who designed and manufactures the vehicle's armor. [4] The vehicle was designed to take part in the US military's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program, led by the US Marine Corps, as well as a similar US Army-led Medium Mine Protected Vehicle program. [5]
MRAPs are categorized as category 1 or category 2, depending on usage and passenger compartment space, and Navistar produces the MaxxPro in both sizes, although the vast majority of those sold have been category 1 MRAPs. The MaxxPro Plus model comes with dual rear wheels for increased load carrying capacity, such as an ambulance or EFP protected variant. The latest model produced is the MaxxPro Dash, which is a smaller and lighter category 1 model. Both the Plus and Dash models use the MaxxForce 10 engine with 375 hp, in place of the DT 530 with 330 hp, used in the original base model produced.
The M1224 MaxxPro base model uses a crew capsule with a V-shaped hull, mounted on an International 7000 chassis. The V-hull deflects the blast of a land mine or improvised explosive device (IED) away from the vehicle to protect its occupants. Because the chassis is mounted outside the armored crew capsule, there are concerns that it will likely be destroyed in the event of an ambush, leaving the soldiers inside stranded. [5] However, according to Navistar Defense spokesperson Roy Wiley, the MaxxPro "did extremely well during the tests, and we are extremely pleased." [6] This design may prove as effective as the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann ATF Dingo that uses a similar design, one which mounts an armored capsule to a Unimog chassis. This design has survived a 7 kg (15 lb) land mine blast with no injuries. [7]
According to Navistar Defense, the vehicle is designed with operational readiness in mind and uses standardized, easily available parts, to ensure rapid repair and maintenance. [8] The armored body is bolted together instead of welded, as in other MRAPs. This facilitates repair in the field and is a contributing factor to Navistar's greater production capacity for the MaxxPro. [9]
In 2010, the Army initiated a development effort to add electronic stability control (ESC), a computerized technology designed to improve vehicle stability, to the MaxxPro. The MaxxPro's high ground clearance provides greater protection from underbody blasts, but also raises its center of gravity, causing rollovers in certain situations. The ESC combines road factors, vehicle data, and driver intent to automatically correct driving to ensure stability during maneuvers. Installation on MaxxPros began in late 2014 and is to be completed by late 2017, with other MRAPs planned to have ESC integrated onto them. [10]
Initially just two vehicles were delivered for testing at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in March 2007.
Following testing, a first order for 1,200 MRAP Category 1 MaxxPro vehicles was placed by the US Marine Corps Systems Command on 31 May 2007 for delivery by February 2008. [11] However, as the U.S. Army Research and Development laboratory is overseeing the entire MRAP program, it is unclear which branches of the US Armed Services will be receiving the vehicles, and in what numbers. [6] The contract was worth over $623 million, making it then the biggest MRAP contract to date. The US Marine Corps plans to replace all HMMWVs "outside the wire" in Iraq with MRAP vehicles.
A further order for 16 Category 2 versions (dubbed MaxxPro XL) was placed on 19 June 2007 for delivery by September 2007. [12]
An additional 755 Category 1 MaxxPros were ordered on 20 July 2007, also for delivery by February 2008, and a third order for a further 1,000 vehicles was announced on 18 October 2007. [13] [14]
In the final order of 2007 a further 1,500 Category 1 MaxxPros were ordered bringing the total to 4,471. [15] Of total MRAP orders to the end of 2007, 45% are MaxxPros (66% of Category 1 MRAPs).
In the first order of 2008, 743 Category I MaxxPros were ordered. The MaxxPro was by now the only Category I MRAP still receiving fresh orders. [16]
On 19 September 2012, Navistar received an order worth $282 million to upgrade more than 2,300 MaxxPro Dash vehicles to the MaxxPro Dash ISS version. The upgrades include the Diamond Xtream Mobility Independent suspension system. The upgrade is designed to give the vehicles improved capability and technology for a lower cost than purchasing a brand-new vehicle. Work began in December in Afghanistan in the field and was completed by June 2013. [1]
About 9,000 MaxxPro vehicles were bought by the U.S. Army between 2007 and 2011, and they plan to keep only about 3,000 of them. [17] Navistar is pitching the MaxxPro MRAP as a vehicle that can be upgraded into a mobile command post or power generator. With budget cuts, the plan would allow the Army to get solutions they want from the existing fleet. [18] The company is also planning to make it a maintenance vehicle and mortar carrier. [19]
Navistar considered modifying the MaxxPro to fit Army requirements for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program to replace the M113 family of vehicles. Navistar felt that although it has less capabilities such as gap crossing, their wheeled MRAP could be capable enough to meet the solutions required and be cheaper by selecting a vehicle already in the inventory. [19] Navistar offered the MaxxPro as a stop-gap solution to replace the M113 quickly with the more survivable MRAP, to be used until the AMPV can be fielded in 2020. [20] BAE Systems was awarded the AMPV contract in December 2014. [21]
The company is also pitching the MaxxPro to replace the M113 in units above brigade level not directly involved in fighting for the same cost saving reasons. [22]
On 16 June 2008 Navistar debuted a new version called MaxxPro Plus. MaxxPro Plus has increased engine power and payload, as well as Frag Kit 6 enhancements for increased explosively formed penetrator protection. [23]
On 4 September 2008 the U.S. Marine Corps awarded Navistar a $752 million contract to develop and produce a lighter, smaller, and more mobile MaxxPro variant that is less prone to the rollover problems that have plagued MRAP vehicles. MaxxPro Dash M1235A1 has a smaller turning radius and higher torque to weight ratio. Production of the MaxxPro Dash began in October 2008 with delivery of 822 units completed by February 2009. [24] [25]
MaxxPro Dash with improved DXM suspension system.
On 5 May 2011 Navistar Defense received a $183 million delivery order for 250 International MaxxPro Dash ambulances with DXM independent suspension. [26]
The MaxxPro XL is a Category II MRAP version of the MaxxPro. It is a larger and longer version of the base vehicle. Because it is longer, it has three bullet-resistant windows on each side, instead of two. The MaxxPro XL can carry up to 10 soldiers. [27]
There is also an MRAP Recovery Vehicle; 250 have been ordered. These are well suited to recovering other vehicles which have been damaged by IEDs. [28]
On 18 July 2011 Navistar Defense received a delivery order for an additional 140 MRVs with rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) nets from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command. [26]
Uzbekistan is known to be a user of the recovery vehicle version of the MRAP [29]
At Association of the United States Army 2013, a version called the Mission Command on the Move (MCOTM) was displayed as a command post with monitors, computers, and antennae mounted in the back for communications and surveillance. Five passengers can monitor incoming information, see unmanned aerial vehicle feeds, and keep track of where units are operating. The vehicle has an on-board transmission-integrated power generator that can produce up to 120 kilowatts of exportable power, which eliminates the need for a towed trailer and can single-handedly power a semi-permanent tactical operations center. It would allow commanders to be connected to dismounted troops and headquarters while on the move. The MCOTM version will undergo testing at the Army's network integration evaluations in February 2014. [17] [18]
The RG-31 Nyala is a 4×4 multi-purpose Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle manufactured in South Africa by Land Systems OMC, located in Benoni, South Africa and in Turkey by FNSS Defence Systems. It is based on the Mamba APC of TFM Industries.
The Buffalo is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle built by Force Protection, Inc., a division of General Dynamics. It is the largest vehicle in Force Protection's line-up, followed by the Cougar HE MRAP and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV).
The Cougar is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and infantry mobility vehicle structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
Force Protection, Inc. was a manufacturer of ballistic- and blast-protected vehicles from the United States which have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots around the world. The company was acquired by General Dynamics in 2011.
The RG-33 is a mine-resistant light armored vehicle initially designed by BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, a South African subsidiary of BAE Systems. BAE Systems in the US extensively modified it with additional protection, new powertrain, and suspension systems. It was built in a number of locations including York, Pennsylvania. It was one of several vehicles being fielded by the US Armed Forces in Iraq under the United States MRAP program.
The Cheetah MMPV was a prototype built by the Force Protection, Inc., division of General Dynamics. It was intended as part of Force Protection's armoured military vehicle line-up, which includes the MRAP-class of Buffalo and Cougar vehicles and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV).
An infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) is a four-wheel drive armored personnel carrier (APC) serving as a armed military transport, military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo, Otokar Cobra II, Iveco LMV, Oshkosh M-ATV, AMZ Dzik, AMZ Tur, Mungo ESK, and Bushmaster IMV. Some Infantry mobility vehicles have Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) capabilities. The physical appearance of the Infantry mobility vehicles are generally similar to the SUV, covered Pickup truck or Box truck.
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAPV), also known as MRAP Vehicle, is a type of armoured personnel carrier that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes to save troops life. Some Infantry mobility vehicle also have MRAPV capabilities.
The International MXT-MV is an infantry mobility vehicle produced by Navistar Defense, a subsidiary of Navistar International, which is the owner of the International brand of vehicles. Introduced in 2006 and developed in parallel with the civilian International MXT, the MXT-MV is extensively modified for military duty compared to its civilian counterpart. It is transportable by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft.
The Humvee replacement process was an effort by the U.S. military to replace the current AM General Humvee multi-purpose motor vehicle. The Humvee had evolved several times since its introduction in 1985, and is now used in tactical roles for which it was not originally intended. The U.S. military pursued several initiatives to replace it, both in the short and long term. The short-term replacement efforts utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, while the long-term efforts focused on building requirements for the Humvee replacement and technology research and evaluation in the form of various prototype vehicles.
The Oshkosh M-ATV is a mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle developed by the Oshkosh Corporation for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program. Intended to replace M1114 HMMWVs (Humvee), it is designed to provide the same levels of protection as the larger and heavier previous MRAPs, but with improved mobility.
The Caiman is a mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle with a V-hull design based on the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC), initially developed by Stewart & Stevenson and now produced by BAE Systems Platforms & Services.
The Q-NET is an add-on armor kit developed by QinetiQ to counter the threat of rocket-propelled grenades.
Burraq is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle currently being developed by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan. It is a 4x4 Protected vehicle based on the chassis of the Isuzu NPS-75 commercial truck so as to reduce the cost and facilitate the delivery of spare parts. In appearance, the Burraq is quite similar to the Wildcat MRAP, developed by the Israel Military Industries (IMI).
The Oshkosh Alpha is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle created by Oshkosh Corporation together with Protected Vehicles Incorporated (PVI). It is considered as a Category I MRAP vehicle.
Navistar Defense LLC is a division of Navistar International that specializes in the manufacturing and design of military vehicles.
The CS/VP3 MRAP also known as the CS/VP3 Bigfoot is a MRAP developed by Poly Technologies and manufactured by Changan Automobile in China. It was unveiled in China at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition 2012 in Zhuhai, China, and overseas at the 2012 DSA defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
United States MRAP program was created to produce Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle for the country. In 2004, the TSG/FPI Cougar was designed by a British-led U.S. team, to U.S. Marine Corps requirements. It became the springboard from which the MRAP program was launched. Only two "armor quality" steel mills operate in the U.S.: the Russian-owned Oregon Steel Mills and the International Steel Group. The U.S. Department of Defense negotiated to ensure enough steel was available to keep pace with production. The U.S. military's MRAP program was prompted by U.S. casualties from improvised explosive devices (IED)s during the Iraq War. The United States Department of Defense MRAP program began in 2007 as a response to the increased threat of IEDs during the Iraq War. From 2007 until 2012, the MRAP program deployed more than 12,000 vehicles in the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.