Washington, Apr. 2: Keen to regain control of the offensive against insurgents and extremists in Afghanistan, the Pentagon has decided to deploy the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) All Terrain Vehicle in that landlocked country’s rough terrain with the objective of protecting Allied troops against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

According to Fox News, Afghanistan is not Iraq. It''s a different war against a different enemy in a different country with an entirely different terrain and altitude.

One thing, however, is the same – IED or roadside bombs that often blow up US-manufactured Humvees and the soldiers inside them.

The MRAP is to replace the Humvee. It has been nicknamed the "Baby MRAP," which is being "designed for mobility and survivability," says Cheryl Irwin, spokeswoman for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

A scaled-down, all-terrain, four-wheel offspring of the larger MRAP, the M-ATV is one of the first tactical vehicles designed specifically with Afghanistan in mind, and the Defense Department has put an urgent priority on getting it into the war zone by the end of this year.

Its equipment and capabilities are many: • IED jammers

• V-shaped blast-dispersing monocoque hull

• Significantly increased power-to-weight ratio

• The ability to ford hard-bottom fresh water to depths of up to 5 feet. (M-ATV is not amphibious)

• Generate 10 kilowatts of vehicle host power and export an additional 20 kilowatts for mission equipment

• Turbo-charged diesel V8 engine

• Shorter wheelbase for improved cross-country mobility

• Lower center of gravity for increased maneuverability and to prevent rollovers

• Ergonomic steering angle to “drive like an SUV”

• “Runflat” tire system allowing the M-ATV to safely cruise at 30 mph on up to two flat tires

To meet future challenges, a new composite “hyperplastic” material capable of absorbing enormous amounts of kinetic energy is the new frontier for armor. This new “composite armor system” has even resisted the deadly energy formed projectile (EFP) class of IED, all while weighing 37 percent less than conventional steel armor.

It''s a major victory in the “up armor” race, but in Afghanistan, the IED battle is just beginning. (ANI)