First Army MRAPs Arrive in Iraq

MRAP vehicles are trickling into Iraq, airlifted to the country by C-5 and C-17s from the US Navy's completion center in South Carolina, where they are fitted with 'government furnished equipment' such as CREW type IED jammers, radios and accessories.

The first examples from each model are delivered to the MRAP training center at Camp Liberty, western Baghdad where drivers and mechanics are trained through a 40 hour orientation course, before they are delivered to the combat units. Sofar the USMC has fielded Force Protection Cougar based 4x4 and 6x6 MRAPs while the Army is fielding the MaxxPro from International in 4x4 configurations.

Further models currently in production include the Caiman from BAE Systems' division Stewart & Stevenson, 6x6 RG-33s, also from BAE Systems and 4x4 RG-31 Mk5s originally developed by BAE System's South African subsidiary OMC and being delivered by General Dynamics Land Systems' Canada, primarily to the US Special Operations Command.

The MRAPs are currently being fielded to units who need them the most and operate in areas with the highest threat, officials said. Although the Humvee is not expected to be phased out anytime soon, the MRAPs will begin to take its place as a new standard Army vehicle.