Pentagon: 1,117 MRAPs delivered downrange

Pentagon: 1,117 MRAPs delivered downrange
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, December 14, 20077

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department has delivered 1,117 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles to the U.S. Central Command theater of operations this year as of Dec. 5, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Wednesday.

MRAPs have V-shaped hulls to deflect blasts from underneath and provide more protection against roadside bombs than up-armored Humvees.

The Defense Department hopes to have 1,500 vehicles in theater by the end of the year.

Those vehicles that are sent by ship first go to Kuwait and are then flown elsewhere in the CENTCOM theater.

Morrell could not say Wednesday how many MRAPs would still be in Kuwait at year’s end, but he said the goal is to get as many into the fight as possible.


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