Hendrick wants to put Jeep Wranglers back on the battlefield

While predicating the fact that such a vehicle would be no match for an IED/VBIED...and accepting the ilk of RP members of more extensive convoy experience than my own...I will say that there are many advantages here. For one, the primary reason we have "up armored" and blast resistant hulls, etc, is that we operate on existing roadways, perhaps too often. The second, is that we rely on our vehicles to act somewhat as mobile defensive positions. We also can't operate as efficiently in the M1114s truly 'off road' owing to the increased weight. Some form of light, highly mobile, un-armored vehicle like this would permit (if not require) a departure from the prevalent SOP, which would ultimately make it more difficult for the enemy to know when and where to place their IEDs or stage VBIEDs.

No-You couldn't use these vehicles like we use the M1114s, but you may force a much needed change in overall tactics for mechanized operations. Without question, this would be an offensive rather than defensive shift. Combining route clearing packages with the MRAPs with larger, more mobile units equipped with Jeeps might allow more flexibility when not operating in urban environments, and provide cheaper/more reliable transport to maneuver units operating in more rugged terrain, such as that of East Afghanistan.

Don't get me wrong...many lives have been saved by current tech...but in my own experience, the M1114 may be looked back upon in later years as our version of "trench warfare"; that, coupled with "FOB-centric" operations.

Just one "Dirt Sailor's" opinion.

Actually this should not be too much of a surprise. The 82nd is testing ULCV's, and this is one of the vehicles that was used in a demonstration about a year ago at Fort Bragg. The Polaris MRZR 4 is the current test bed vehicle in the 2nd BCT.

Awesome idea. Of course once we get it through the acquisition process, the cost would likely be prohibitive. The beauty of the jeep was its low cost to field and versatility. I have absolute confidence that requirements creep and the acquisition process would land us with an ultra expensive, yet limited capability version. Sorry to be such a negative voice but I have been in acquisitions for 10 years since my retirement, and I am amazed how convoluted the process is...