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Washington Post
Jan 12, 2023
The Department of Defense announced its decision to retire the MRAP today in light of recent concerns about its survivability on the modern battlefield. Designed for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, it excelled at protecting soldiers against landmines and makeshift bombs.
It was only during the recent conflict with China that the vehicles shortcomings were discovered. Slow, heavy, poor armament, poor cross country mobility, and high profile made this vehicle cannon fodder for infantry anti-tank missiles and the 40mm cannons on the Chinese BMP-5's, ultimately costing thousands of lives.
"It couldn't keep up with the tanks" said SSG Joe Smith. "We had to stop three times to dig them out of the mud. This is, like, the worst vehicle ever."
Sources say the replacement will likely be a tracked vehicle with a heavy weapon of some sort and a basic anti-tank capability.
General Dumping told reporters today that the Army is indeed designing a replacement vehicle for the aging MRAP, although it will likely be years until it is fielded and cost the DoD around 380,000,000,000. While this is relatively cheap by modern standards, the creaking military will find it hard to field the 300 or so vehicles needed to fill all 20 Brigade Combat Teams.
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