The U.S. Army received the first two of 5,244 Mine

Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles,

the Military's newest addition to the family of Mine

Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, in Afghanistan early

October to support combat operations in Afghanistan's difficult,

mountainous terrain.

The M-ATV features the same life-saving, v-shaped hull

that has proven to be successful defending against Improvised

Explosive Devices on the larger MRAPs, but in a

smaller, Humvee-sized package. They will eventually be

dispersed between Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force

troops serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

The first M-ATVs were delivered to troops in Afghanistan

just three months after the first contract was awarded to

the Oshkosh Corporation and one year since the requirement

was identified. The need to produce the M-ATV came from

a requirement for a smaller, more maneuverable MRAP to

travel off-road and navigate the mountainous terrain.

"So we have pulled out all the stops to collapse the

schedule and get these vehicles into theater," said Brig. Gen.

Michael Brogan, Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command

and Joint Program Executive Officer of the MRAP

Program. "We are doing everything that's required to ensure

that they are safe, that the risk assessments are complete, that

they're fully integrated and flown into Afghanistan."

According to Marine Corps Systems Command, the MATVs

will support small-unit combat operations in highly

restricted rural, mountainous and urban environments that

include mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security,

convoy protection, communications, command and

control, and combat service support. It is designed to

replace the up-armored Humvee in Afghanistan carrying

up to five personnel - four plus a gunner.

Only one version, comparable to the Cat 1 MRAP

but more maneuverable, is planned for Afghanistan.

The M-ATV is a separate category within the MRAP

family of vehicles due to their off-road capabilities

and smaller size which is necessary due to the lack

of established roads and bridges in the Afghanistan

theater of operations. It will be used to complement

other tactical vehicles, including MRAPs, already in

country.

The M-ATVs off-road capabilities lie in its lighter

weight and independent suspension system that allows

for 16 inches of wheel travel. The TAC-4

system developed by the Oshkosh Corporation has

already seen over 400,000 miles of government durability

testing and is also being used on other MRAPs.

The Military is currently working to ensure that

M-ATVs coming off the line are finding their way to

combat troops on the ground as soon as possible. Airlift

is the fastest way to deliver MRAP and MRAPtype

vehicles to the U.S. Central Command area of

operations where they are most needed. Air Force

cargo aircraft, including the C-5 and C-17 transport

planes, and AN-124 commercial aircraft can carry

M-ATVs into Afghanistan. Besides using military

and commercial airlift, Navy and commercial sealift

will also be used to transport M-ATV vehicles.

As with earlier MRAPs, none of the new vehicles

will touch down in Kuwait on their way into theater

until a significant number is fulfilling the mission in

Afghanistan.

As necessary, the intra-theater transportation system

will engage to bring M-ATVs to the Servicemembers.