Armor: November 5, 2000

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The Multi-Role Armored Vehicle project is the largest armored vehicle program in Europe. It will eventually involve 3,000 vehicles for Germany, 1,000 for Britain, and (if they sign on as expected) 600 for the Dutch. The MRAV is an 8x8 armored car with a large boxy chassis designed to maximize internal space. It will be used as a command post, ambulance, mortar carrier, air defense vehicle, and armored personnel carrier. Germany is designing the drive train and armor, while Britain designs the chassis and nuclear-biological-chemical protection suite. Each country will select its own weapons and communications gear. The Germans are so hot to get the MRAV that they plan to buy 150 pre-production vehicles to equip their crisis intervention force.--Stephen V Cole