Image: Photo by Sgt. 1st Class John Fries (U.S. Army)
FoxTrot Alpha: The U.S. Army Wants a Super-Light ATV to Ferry Troops on the Battlefield
The U.S. Army is looking for a new vehicle to quickly transport troops across the battlefield. Qualified applicants must carry nine fully-armed infantry soldiers, work after being pushed out of an airplane, and enjoy a road speed of 55 mph. And no armor either. Wait, what?
The Army recently released a market survey for what it’s calling the Infantry Squad Vehicle, or ISV. The ISV is meant to be an ultra-light vehicle capable of hauling troops across the battlefield. Unlike other vehicles, the ISV is merely a people hauler and won’t actually do any fighting.
Still, the emphasis on light weight and mobility—at the expense of any sort of protection—is sort of an eyebrow-raiser.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Speed without protection. Some trade-off.
3 comments:
And 2 of them have to fit in a CH-47. Plus troops, fuel and gear.
Without armor, it kinda sounds like a Humvee. And we all know where the armor went in a conflict using that one.
Light, simple, carries a squad and it's gear.
Basically, the US Army is going back to the future with a modern day WWII Jeep.
I was in the Army with the 101st ABN when we switched from the M151 MUTT (last Jeep) to the Hummer.
The Hummer carried more, but there was a noticeable drop in mobility and quick-footedness with the infantry units.
The Tankers, artillery and support units were better off with the Hummer.
This is a smart choice for lighter units.
Post a Comment