Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Army seeks to replace combat vehicles, but it won't be easy

After more than a decade of war, the Army wants to replace combat vehicles worn out from millions of miles in rugged terrain in Iraq and Afghanistan or blown up by roadside bombs. However, budget and political concerns likely will force the service to repair older vehicles instead, USA Today reported.

The Army wants vehicles whose armor can protect troops yet are maneuverable enough for the urban warfare that is increasingly common. That combination will be expensive, and right now politicians and the Defense Department are trying to find ways to save money, not spend it.

Compunding the problem, USA Today said, is that the Army hasn't had much luck in fielding new vehicles in recent years: