Not your mama's Hummer - new Oshkosh M-ATVs arriving in Afghanistan (photos & video)

September 30, 9:42 PMSan Jose Auto Industry ExaminerArt Michalik

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The first of Oshkosh's M-ATVs should hit the ground in Afghanistan this week

With all the exciting news this summer of upcoming new plug-in hybrids and EVs, it was easy to overlook a fascinating new vehicle that almost none of us will ever drive but will have a significant impact on each and every one of our lives. That vehicle is the Oshkosh M-ATV.

These clever, capable vehicles were designed, tested, approved and put into production in record time, with the first of them hitting the ground in Afghanistan this week (check out the video below).

Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters that at least 6,644 of the M-ATVs would go to U.S. forces in Afghanistan over the next year or so, making it one of the fastest and highest-priority acquisition programs in Defense Department history, he said. Just three months ago, Oshkosh received an initial order from the U.S. Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command for 2,244 M-ATVs valued at just over $1 billion after beating out four other truck makers.

If the name Oshkosh means only kid's overalls to you, you should know that a completely separate company with the same name quietly manufactures heavy-duty vehicles for airports, fire departments, the construction industry, and our military and has been doing for the past 90 years. In that world they have an outstanding reputation for quality and durability.

Given the task to quickly develop a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle for the US Army with exceptional off-road capabilities for use in Afghanistan (70% off road), Oshkosh did what an good hot-rodder would do – take a big vehicle with excellent capabilities and lots of power and strip away its weight until you get the performance you want. In this case, they then added back needed armoring and created the M-ATV, an MRAP well-suited to Afghan terrain. Further the M-ATV is ready in record time and at a significantly lower cost that the existing larger Cougar MRAP now used in Iraq.

Oshkosh started the M-ATV design process with their well-proven Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) platform, and then incorporated its proprietary TAK-4 independent suspension system, which not only provides 16” of wheel travel, but reduces pitch, bump steer, and traction hop, all problems that have plagued other MRAP chassis (which are being retrofitted with TAK-4 suspension). Traction is further enhanced by a Central Tire Inflation (CTI) system which features two channels and four terrain settings, which allows the driver not only to adjust tire pressures from high  for paved roads to very low for sand and mud, but can also engage the system so that it can control vehicle speed based on terrain.

The M-ATV design also makes use of many off-the-shelf components. Power comes from a turbocharged 7.2 liter 370 HP Caterpillar C7 engine which utilizes Caterpillar's ACERT clean diesel technology that meets current EPA standards. A six-speed Allison 3500 SP automatic transmission drives power out through a Marmon Herrington transfer case which in turn drives Oshkosh MTVR front and rear axles.

Oshkosh teamed with Plasan North America to provide an advanced armor solution for the M-ATV. Plasan also developed the armor system used on more than 5,000 existing MRAPs and thousands of Oshkosh Armored Cab MTVRs already in use in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Designed to seat four plus a gunner, the M-ATV comes in at around 25,000 lbs with a 4,000 lb payload capacity.

MRAPs have been proven to save many lives of US servicemen and servicewomen, particularly in Iraq. The real measure of success of the M-ATV will be the American lives it saves as the US widens its effort in Afghanistan.

 If there isn't a video below this line, please CLICK HERE to watch the video