MRAP v Iran
(MRAP, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected- Wheeled armored vehicles with enhanced mine and ambush protection)
The United Arab Emirates ordered the American X-NUMX M-ATV (MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle - wheeled armored vehicles with enhanced protection against off-road mines and ambushes). The US Department of Defense ordered more than 750 M-ATVs, and more than 7000 percent of them were already delivered (mostly to Afghanistan). Most of them cost about $ 80 600 each. The order quantity is twice the size of the older MRAP models ordered for delivery to Iraq. Many of these old models were in Afghanistan.
M-ATV is a 15-ton, armored vehicle with independent wheel suspension 4x4. The payload is 1.8 t and it is capable of carrying five fighters (including the shooter). The maximum speed is 105 kilometers per hour and the range on the highway 515 kilometers. The size of the M-ATV is slightly larger than the Hummer. M-ATV costs about a million dollars, including equipment, weapons and transportation (transportation to Afghanistan costs about $ 150000).
Two years ago, when M-ATV began to arrive in large numbers in the troops, American troops in Afghanistan already used more than 7000 MRAP, but most of them were older models and were intended mainly for traveling on roads. The M-ATV design is similar to the MRAP design, but greatly modified based on combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now she can act on the road. With certain driving skills, the M-ATV had a much better throughput than expected. Unlike previous MRAP models, the M-ATV was specifically designed for off-road operations, especially in Afghanistan. The troops found that M-ATV was able to confidently overcome rugged terrain, which is usually dangerous for conventional MRAP. Practically the same as with a tracked off-road vehicle, here you can simply drive anywhere, but even a tracked vehicle can roll over or lose a caterpillar when driving carelessly. Due to the stability of the M-ATV commanders develop tactics of their application. The enemy can no longer hope that all MRAPs will remain on the road.
The improved M-ATV design is based on the fact that all other MRAPs were, after all, only heavy trucks. The design of the MRAP main capsule increased the center of gravity of the machine, which made it prone to tilting. They are also large vehicles, which leads to problems with maneuverability when passing through narrow streets. Most MRAPs suffer from the lack of sufficient torque and their power is somewhat insufficient for their size. And finally, being wheeled vehicles, they have not enough maneuverability on rough terrain (especially considering their high center of gravity). M-ATV was designed to solve all these problems with varying degrees of success.
The rush to supply MRAP to Afghanistan was associated with intentions to reduce casualties. The landing force and crew of these vehicles have great chances to survive the explosion of a roadside mine. The math is simple. If all troops facing roadside mines were on the MRAP, then there would be less victims by about 65 percent. Two years ago, about two-thirds of all casualties in Afghanistan were hit by roadside mines. Thus, these vehicles reduced the number of total losses by about a third. This is confirmed by the steady decline in roadside mine losses over the past year. Because of the MRAP, less than half of American casualties in Afghanistan are caused by roadside mines.
The UAE is facing growing problems with its Shiite minority. Iran, the largest Shiite nation on the planet, calls on the Shiite minority of the UAE to rebel against their Sunni rulers. If this happens, IEDs and roadside mines will be used - just what the MRAP does very well.
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