Services weigh retrofit to help protect Humvees - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Services weigh retrofit to help protect Humvees

The Army and Marine Corps are examining a 5,400-pound armored cabin that can be installed on Humvees to give riders blast protection equivalent to that of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, service and industry officials said.

An Army test and evaluation team in Washington has looked at the $80,000 Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule, made by Greensboro, N.C.-based Granite Tactical Vehicles The capsule was presented Aug. 27 to Army Materiel Command and officials at Tank Automotive Research and Engineering Center in Warren, Mich.

The services are considering adding capsules to damaged and worn Humvees returning from Iraq for reset.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Downie confirmed that the service was evaluating the capsule.

“The Army is always looking for ways to counter this persistent threat, and we’re always interested in finding solutions that will enhance the safety of our soldiers,” Downie said.

The SCTVC will undergo simulation testing and live-fire blast testing before the Army or Marine Corps makes a decision.

“The capsule is the same material as MRAPs, with military-specification hard-steel sides and a high-grade steel hull,” Granite Tactical Vehicles President Chris Berman said. “The capsule itself is welded into one big bubble, which sets down over the chassis of an existing Humvee’s frame rails. A plate extends underneath to complete a V-shaped hull.”

The capsule lowers the Humvee’s center of gravity compared with an up-armored vehicle, retains many of the dimensions of the original cab and uses the existing controls, linkages and drive systems.