USA Today
Thousands of pounds lighter and $80,000 cheaper than the Humvee, the Infantry Squad Vehicle is based on the Chevrolet Colorado truck built in Missouri. It’s basically the same truck that consumers can buy at a local dealership. Only about 20% of the Infantry Squad Vehicle’s components, including communication and electronic gear, are unique to the Army.
That’s a key difference compared to trucks such as Humvees and JLTVs, which were custom-built for the military.
Some Pentagon officials, however, acknowledge that the tradeoff for speed and expense is losing the armor that saved lives and limbs in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Infantry Squad Vehicle represents the Army’s latest assessment of what soldiers will need for the next war.
The new drones and robots accompanying the truck can be sent ahead of it to help soldiers avoid ambushes. Speed, not armor, is what will save soldiers’ lives in the next fight, Miller said. More
The Army had to do something about it, since they left a shitload of Humvees in Afghanistan. But looking at this vehicle, I wonder how the soldiers will like it in inclement weather ??
When it was showcased in the tribute parade to the armed forces in D.C., we thought it was very cool! It changes the pace of combat and has a kind of Mad Max vibe to it. It kinda reminded me of the opening scenes of Rat Patrol, too. A big contrast to the lumbering armored vehicles which, I would think, could also be a deathtrap in certain instances.
I guess we’ll have to wait to see how well they fit the mission. I’d like to have one.
I wouldn’t want one of my loved ones to be riding in one of those dune buggies in a war zone, especially in the Middle East.
What kind of protection would they provide during an IED explosion?
New Chevys? The transmissions will go out before they ever see combat.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DHKxoARmjLU&pp=ygUVdGVybWluYXRvciBmdXR1cmUgd2Fy&t=1m45s
Finally some sense and savings by the army. In Ukraine, which has become the face if modern war, it’s all about speed and dispersion, mainly because of drones. Both sides are riding dirt bikes, widely dispersed, to gey where they need to go. Armor is of limited utility now. It’s all about cope cages. And IEDs are so 2008.
my employer gave me a Colorado for a work truck
giant POS
Yugo level shitty
My neighbor has one. He loves it. (Colorado)
Been better off with a Ranger.
When we were hound hunting thirty years ago Rangers and Toyotas were the ONLY compact pickups that anyone owned. When my buddy goes to Africa hunting Rangers and Toyotas are the only pickups that will stand up to the rigors of tough on and off road usage. Tribal members can still hound hunting Rangers and they are tough hunters and the only compact pickups they will even consider.
I’ve known a dozen guys who have bought a Chevrolet compact SUV or pickup and every last one of them regrets that decision. Let’s just say I’m skeptical this is going to work out well. But then again, Toyota and Ford pickups don’t have the same reputation they had for toughness ten years ago.
Chevrolet LUV Truck 2.0, but Joe Isuzu says they are cheaper and easier to maintain than a WWII Jeep.
Perfumed princes at the Pentagon make decisions that can save money initially (through political decisions) that will kill enlisted ground operation’s personnel. They think a reworked chevy colorado can outrun a drone?
I suspect paying death benefits or extended Hospital surgery expenses are different line items.
The REMF bean counters figure the lower vehicle cost is worth the loss of personnel.
Enlisted personnel better realize they have been and will always remain expendable (they are the pawns in the chess game of War played by non-combatants throughout history).
What’s old is new again.
Does anyone besides me remember the CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle), predecessor to the Hummer? It was a Chevy or Dodge P/U or SUV retrofitted with some military parts (24V electrical system for one)
Looks like the Army is going full circle to COTS (Commercial Off-the-shelf) equipment. This one looks more Tinker toy then the older stuff.
When I lived in a foreign country (on a base), the humvees (when they were first deployed) were quiet, so as to sneak up on people, but they didn’t have much speed. The thing is, at night, I could still hear a whisper of them and they did rattle the ground a little. And that was on concrete.
They’re not made as tanks. So, if they haven’t changed much except for the computer system, it’s better to have speed and weapons/weapons control.
Better than the last time they did this type of chit. In the 70’s they tried to save Chrysler by replacing the M151 Jeeps with Dodge 3/4 ton pickups. What hunks ‘o junk.
Dodge Powerwagon.
You mean Fiat Power Wagon.
Brad – No I mean like the twenty year old Powerwagon design that Dodge resurrected. It was a special off-road version of the Ram 2500 with a 5.7L Hemi V8 as the only engine option. No Fiat junk! Fuk that!
Harry
If you mean this version, I’ll take two.
https://www.greenfamilystores.com/used/Dodge/1950-Dodge-Power-Wagon-6e92c2a80a0e09716825084e292f1d31.htm
All the new trucks are junk.