Marines Get Wise, Tone Down MRAP Order

The Marine Corps now wants a third less of those Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, "despite pressure from lawmakers who are determined to spend billions of dollars" on the things, according to the AP.**

The Marine Corps' requirement for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles would drop from the planned 3,700 to about 2,400...

About a month ago, Marine Commandant Gen. T. James Conway signaled the possibility of a new examination of the commitment to the vehicles, saying he was concerned his force was getting too heavy. "I'm a little bit concerned about us keeping our expeditionary flavor," he said.

At the same time, an independent study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington questioned whether the Pentagon was buying too many of the pricey vehicles, which can cost as much as $1 million each. The study found that in some cases, the heavily armored vehicles, with their bomb-deflecting V-shaped hulls, might not be the answer that many believe they are.

I can guess why their requirement mysteriously dropped. A Congressional Research Service report noted that the Marine Corps was planning to replace every up-armored Humvee with an MRAP, while the Army was planning to replace only every seventh up-armored Humvee. Maybe a congressional staffer dropped some heavy hints about the billion dollars that could be better spent elsewhere. Or I could believe that the Marine leadership, ever sensitive to the winds of political change, pre-emptively moved to "do the right thing." Either way, I'll reiterate - we need an honest assessment of this program against future requirements, instead of rushing into an ill-conceived decision surrounded by politicians waving small American flags.

ALSO:

* Future Humvee vs. "Laws of Physics"
* Big Armored Vehicles' Big Surprise
* Congress Raps Pentagon on Bomb-Resistant Vehicles
* Report: Pentagon Going Overboard on MRAPs
* Take Your V-Shaped Hull and Shove It
* MRAP v Superbombs
* MRAP V Superbomb: Round 2
* How Much for the Girl -- I Mean, MRAP?
* MRAP Delivery Estimates Cut Over Half
* [Congress Moves to Protect MRAP Whistleblower](https://more-deals.info/defense/2007/09/congress-moves-.html#previouspost)%3Cbr/%3E* Iraq Diary: Sleep Through Those Bombs
* MRAP Delivery Estimates Cut by Over Half
* General: reporters are a risk to MRAPs
* MRAP lawsuit!
* MRAP contenders whittled down
* How to build a bazillion MRAPs
* Bomb-Fighting Vehicles Bite the Dust
* Bomb-Resistant Vehicles' Long Road to Acceptance
* Picture This: MRAP Menagerie
* Armor-Makers "Risked Soldiers' Lives," Says Pentagon I.G.
* Shortages for New Armored Vehicles?
* Manufacturers Can't Fill Bomb-Proof Vehicle Demand
* Which Ride Takes Bomb-Blasts Best?
* Military Dragged Feet on Bomb-Proof Vehicles
* Marines 300, Insurgents 0
* Bomb-Proof Vehicles: Why the Delay?
* Army Junking Future for New Rides?
* Armored Vehicle Demand Blows Up