Baby MRAP

This little gem is the smaller version of the MRAP, which has been active in Iraq. The problem with the MRAP is it the size. The thing is too big in Afghanistan where the roads are narrow with steep cliffs in many locations. The video below shows what happens with this large vehicle on narrow roads.



Simply put, the Humvee hasn't been good enough. They do get stuck, but most importantly they are vulnerable. Enter the "Baby MRAP" or the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Its equipment and capabilities are many:

• IED jammers

• V-shaped blast-dispersing monocoque hull

• Significantly increased power-to-weight ratio

• The ability to ford hard-bottom fresh water to depths of up to 5 feet. (M-ATV is not amphibious)

• Generate 10 kilowatts of vehicle host power and export an additional 20 kilowatts for mission equipment

• Turbo-charged diesel V8 engine

• Shorter wheelbase for improved cross-country mobility

• Lower center of gravity for increased maneuverability and to prevent rollovers

• Ergonomic steering angle to “drive like an SUV”

• “Runflat” tire system allowing the M-ATV to safely cruise at 30 mph on up to two flat tires

To meet future challenges, a new composite “hyperplastic” material capable of absorbing enormous amounts of kinetic energy is the new frontier for armor. This new “composite armor system” has even resisted the deadly energy formed projectile (EFP) class of IED, all while weighing 37 percent less than conventional steel armor.

Reasons I like San Antonio - Texas

Now that I have been here numerous times over the course of 10 years, there are a few reasons that have been attractions for me.

1. The Riverwalk - Footpaths, gardens, and restaurant patios that line the banks of the San Antonio River. The Gondola's floating around the 2.5 miles of the canal and all the tourist just add to the fun in this area.

2. The Military City USA - With four military installations within a 20 mile radius there is just an enormous military presence here. Randolph Air Force Base and the Army's Fort Sam Houston are national historic landmarks. Jets are always flying over head, sometimes in formation, great for all of us Air Force brats and now Air Force personnel. The Army's Fort Sam has the Army Medical Department Museum, with exhibits on the evolution of military medicine from 1775 onward.

3. Six Flags - What can I say, I'm an amusement park junky, so when there is a Six Flags, I'm there!

4. Weather - I left zero degrees, wind and snow to come here, and its 70... why do I still live so far North?

5. Any state that lets teachers carry and has a good conceal carry law is okay in my book. They is also a huge push to let college students, 21 and older, with a conceal carry permit, carry on campus. And why not, some of these "kids" that have gone through these classes are more responsible with guns than criminals are.