ARMY AL&T


A mechanic works on MRAP vehicles at the MSF in Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Barbara Hamby.)


independent suspension systems (ISS) designed to improve the blast- protected vehicles’ off-road performance in Afghanistan. A third piece involves refitting a portion of the baseline MRAP fleet with ISS.


“This decision to go with improved suspensions is part of our ongoing commitment to providing Soldiers the safest, most survivable vehicle pos- sible,” Peterson said. “The improved suspension is aimed at providing better off-road capability and has the added benefit of improving the overall ride quality and vehicle performance on the unimproved roads found throughout theater.”


Capabilities Insertion (CI) Just as the number of vehicles required has increased, each service and compo- nent also requires unique and evolving vehicle equipment configurations. The MRAP JPO continues to adapt and work toward testing and integrating


42 JULY –SEPTEMBER 2010


effective and enhanced armor solu- tions as the enemy modifies its means of attack.


The MRAP CI program was developed by the JPO and formally launched in summer 2008, but “we actually started inserting things back into the vehicles almost immediately,” said Dave Hansen, Principal Civilian DPM MRAP Program. “We focused on anything that helped us manufacture or install our government-furnished equipment and then on to survivability and safety issues, such as the GRS [gunner restraint system].”


The CI program was created to address multiple critical Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statements (JUONS) as a single program and single requirements base so optimiza- tion could ensue. It also had an eye toward the future to enable easier incorporation of solutions to future JUONS. The JPO leveraged the inter- nal capabilities of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC), as well as external partnerships to include the Joint MRAP enterprise. Thanks to a coordinated team effort across numerous DOD agencies and organi- zations, hundreds of new capabilities have been added, including overhead


The CI program was created to address multiple critical JUONS as a single program and single requirements base so optimization could ensue.


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