Safer 4 x 4 x necessity: the asymmetrical nature of current conflicts has sparked off a demand for a new generation of 4 x 4 armoured vehicles to protect troops from roadside explosive devices.

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Vehicles: armoured

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Safer 4 x 4 x necessity: the asymmetrical nature of current conflicts has sparked off a demand for a new generation of 4 x 4 armoured vehicles to protect troops from roadside explosive devices.

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The need to provide better protection against hidden explosives and rocket-propelled grenades is the raison d'etre behind the American Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (Mrap) vehicle programme. In January 2007 the US Department of Defense launched the programme, with the US Marine Corps Systems Command as the lead agency, to field purpose-built armoured vehicles to replace uparmoured AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles in Iraq. The 'Humvee' is arguably the most successful light utility vehicle ever fielded, but it was not designed as an armoured vehicle. Although add-on armour kits can provide a high level of protection against small arms fire and shell splinters they can never provide the same protection against rocket-propelled grenades and land mines as armoured vehicles that were specifically designed to survive such threats. Whereas 8 x 8 designs have become the most popular choice for dedicated armoured fighting vehicles that require both high levels of protection and off-road mobility, the asymmetric threat has spurred the demand for 4 x 4 armoured vehicles to replace the 'Jeeps' in a range of roles and to operate in urban...

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