High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

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Ubiquitous in the United States Army are many variants of the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), normally called the "Humvee", or sometimes the "Hummer", although the latter is a commercial, street-legal version. The HMMWV are light trucks that complement the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck

Humvee variants include:

Each of these can have variant loads, and the entire series is being improved.

The Armament Carrier versions have an interchangeable mount for a .50 caliber machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

Issues

HMMWVs, which first entered service in 1985, were developed during the Cold War when improvised explosive devices (IEDs) similar threats to non-combat were not a a major concern. None of the vehicles, in fact, were designed to stop a full-power rifle bullet, although the ambulance and armament carrier had fragment protection. ^[1]

IEDs have far more power than a rifle bullet. Adding armor to a vehicle not designed for it has presented problems in the field; the engine, suspension and cooling are not designed to carry the weight of the additional protection. In some cases, it also makes the vehicle top-heavy and more dangerous to maneuver. Cooling is of special concern in environments such as Iraq.

With more than 50% of the Army’s total tactical wheeled vehicle fleet nearing the end of its useful life, a successor may be needed, although the HMMWV is still in production. One option is a more survivable variant, the Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which could be available by FY2009. These have more purpose-built protection than HMMWV's "up-armored" in the field.

Successor

The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are developing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is under development, preferably with a lesser number of versions than the 11 HMMWV variants.^[2]

At present, the Army and Marines may be continuing HMMWV production for low-risk missions, producing the MRAP, and developing the new JTLV. Even with the potential of large export sales, questions have been raised about the need for three programs.

References