Report: Production capacity, materials lacking for MRAPs

A US Marine Corps RG-31 Cougar Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle rests on its front axle after an I.E.D. detonated directly under the vehicle. The blast was pushed outward instead of straight up due to the vehicle's “V”–shaped undercarriage. Of the five service members in the vehicle, two received concussions and two others received minor burns.

WASHINGTON — The Army has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to approve spending almost $20 billion for new armored vehicles, a week after Gates called deploying the vehicles the military's top hardware priority...

However, there may not be enough material and production capacity to field the MRAPs quickly, according to the memo and Pentagon officials.

No single company can provide more than 1,200 of the vehicles per month, which is the Marines' production goal, said Chris Isleib, a Pentagon spokesman.

Adequate supplies of steel for armor and rubber for tires are also concerns, Isleib said.

Read the rest at USA Today

Related Link:
Pentagon: Loss of U.S. industrial base affecting miliary needs

Related Link:
Source: Army to seek 17,700 MRAPs to replace Iraq Humvees by 2009

Related Link:
Army: Vehicle, gear stockpiles at 5-year low

Related Link:
Pace: Equipment shortage could last years after Iraq war

Related Link:
Marines to place $3.7 billion order for 3,700 MRAP vehicles in Iraq by 2009

Related Link:
Chairman of Joint Chiefs: Not enough armored vehicles for surge troops

Related Link:
Report: Army crticially short in armor kits for Humvees for surge troops

Related Link:
Analysis: Army struggles to keep vehicles on battlefields