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

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.

Acting Army Secretary Pete Geren confirmed today that the Army is set to substantially increase the number of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles it had planned to buy, replacing within two years the 17,700 Humvees now in Iraq...

Now, according to a Pentagon source, the plan has changed and more than 9,000 MRAPs will be procured for fiscal year 2008 and 8,700 more for fiscal 2009.

“By September 2009, every single Humvee in theater will be replaced with the MRAP,” said the source, who spoke to Army Times on condition of anonymity.

Read the rest at Army Times

Related Link:
General Keys: Air force fleet wearing out, risk of catastrophic failure

Related Link:
General Speakes: Billions still expected for reset, new weapons

Related Link:
Opinion (Ron Hutcheson): $564 billion, and counting

Related Link:
Report: Navy can’t afford proposed fleet

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

Related Link:
White House trades new weapons for armor kits, vehicles

Related Link:
CRS Study: $607 billion spent/allocated so far for Iraq, Afghanistan

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

Related Link:
General: Army lost 130 helicopters in Iraq , Afghanistan; Says 'The U.S. is not at war, the military is at war'

Related Link:
Perspective: Incoming Marine units getting retrograde equipment

Related Link:
Army wants more money above the $26 billion for 2007-2008 equipment repair and replacement

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

Related Link:
Analysis: Supplemental shell game balloons defense spending to $716 billion

Related Link:
Bush seeks $245 billion more for war

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:
Guard chief warns of dangerous equipment shortage in U.S.; 90% domestic units have less than half of that needed

Related Link:
Perspective: 25% of Iraq budget for equipment

Related Link:
Perspective: War on a credit card

Related Link:
Perspective: War costs are hitting historic proportions

Related Link:
Pentagon: War cost to rise to $8.5 billion per month

Related Link:
GAO: Annual Iraq war cost has doubled since '03

Related Link:
Perspective: Lack of equipment for surge troops may increase casualties

Related Link:
Perspective: Guard's loss of hardware in war causes dire situation

Related Link:
Budget Director: Costs for Iraq war approach record

Related Link:
Analysis: Equipment shortage affecting ability to deploy

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