Security

"Mad Max" vs. Taliban?

The U.S. military may be encasing its soldiers in thicker and thicker armor — buying thousands of heavily reinforced, bomb-resistant vehicles. The Brits are taking an entirely different approach, with an open-air, off-road, four-ton, 4X4 called the Supacat. The Daily Mail, in the understated style you’ve come to expect from the British press, calls it […]

The U.S. military may be encasing its soldiers in thicker and thicker armor -- buying thousands of heavily reinforced, bomb-resistant vehicles. The Brits are taking an entirely different approach, with an open-air, off-road, four-ton, 4X4 called the Supacat.

SupacatThe Daily Mail, in the understated style you've come to expect from the British press, calls it an "80 mph 'Mad Max' monster target the Taliban." Well, not quite yet.

*the Ministry of Defence is buying 130 of the light-armoured beasts
– which can reach a maximum 80mph – and will take delivery of the first early next year. *

One senior Army officer described the new super-truck as a "serious bit of kit", adding it would be a "huge boost to our long-range patrolling capability"...
*

*Senior defence sources say the Supacats will particularly come into their own against the Taliban in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, which has no roads. *

Defence Minister Lord Drayson said last night: "These vehicles are well armed, swift and agile and will boost our capability with some serious firepower. *

"The MoD and the Treasury have worked hard to get them to our troops in quick time, and they start going out to theatre early next year."*

(High five: RC)