Future Humvee vs. "Laws of Physics"

The military is once again starting to shop around for a successor to the Humvee. Ordinarily, that would be a reasonably straight-ahead task -- give the thing some better armor, a little more comfort, and maybe a hybrid drive.

But with the threat of roadside bombs so high, designing a new, lightweight tactical vehicle is quickly become "a goal that defies the laws of physics," according to *National Defense *magazine.

That may be overstating things a bit. But just a bit.

The services want to build a light truck — which technically would weigh no more than 12,000 pounds — with the same level of ballistic protection that is found in the 40,000 pound mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored vehicles.

“You have physics working against you,” Taylor said in an interview. “There may be an unrealistic expectation that you can provide MRAP-like protection, but it’s a much more complex equation.”

The Army... is struggling with how to make the vehicle light and survivable at the same time.

“This is rocket science,” said Army Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Speakes, deputy chief of staff for programs and resources.

*“Three years ago, we didn’t have requirements to protect against IEDs,” he said. *[Okay, that is also an overstatement. The bombs were a clear threat by 2004. -- ed.] “We are trying to balance performance, payload and protection.”

It’s supposed to be a light vehicle, so Marines can transport them by ship, sling load them from a helicopters and drive them through jungles. But if the vehicles also have to be able to protect the crew from roadside bombs, then JLTV [Joint Light Tactical Vehicle] begins to look a lot like MRAP.

“How do we make a light vehicle that is not 40,000 pounds?” Speakes asked.
“Technology right now tells us that to be survivable and light, a vehicle has to be 40,000 pounds. That’s a non-sequitur. What do we do with technology and design to move back to 15,000 pounds?”

And if you think getting a new Humvee requires a bit of pixie dust, wait
'til you see what the Army has in mind for the tank of the future.
Right now, the service is looking to replace the 70-ton Abrams with new vehicles in the 24-ton range. Anyone care to guess how that trick is gonna be pulled off?

ALSO:

* 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