May 2, 2009: The U.S. Marine Corps has selected a replacement for their MTVR (Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement) heavy truck (that can carry 15 tons of stuff on a road, half that cross country). The new vehicle is the LVSR (Logistic Vehicle System Replacement). Both vehicles weigh about 15 tons, but the 10x10 LVSR will have numerous improvements, like a better suspension, some built in armor and the kind of electronics (diagnostics and control) that are common with current cars and heavy trucks. The LVSR can ford five feet (1.5 meters) of water and move at up to 105 kilometers an hour on roads, and go for 480 kilometers on a tank of fuel. These vehicles are often equipped with a ring mount and a machine-gun when operating in combat zones. The LVSRs cost about $388,000 each, with over 500 on order and a plans to purchase nearly 2,000 of the vehicles.
The MTVR has been in service since the late 1980s. The first LVSRs will enter service next year.
