The best known, but far from all, current and planned FoV are in the U.S. inventory. In addition to Stryker, LAV, M113, and HMMWV, these include:
M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) – A flexible family of force protection platforms that can grow to meet changing requirements through the integration of new mission equipment packages (MEP).
M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) – Although not technically an FoV, the Abrams has been modified to meet the requirements of various militaries and combat environments; these include the basic M1A1 found in numerous foreign fleets to the advanced-generation M1A2 to the TUSK (Tank Urban Survivability Kit) and the Marine Corps M1ABV (Assault Breacher Vehicle).
A U.S. Army paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Tea, fires his M4 carbine at insurgents during a firefight June 30, 2012, Ghazni provine, Afghanistan. The vehicle he is using for cover is a Navistar MaxxPro mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, one of a number of different “MRAP” platforms from several different manufacturers. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod, Task Force 1-82 PAO
Mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) – Created for the Marine Corps to combat IEDs in Southwest Asia, but more widely used by the U.S. Army, the MRAP represents a different kind of family. With simultaneous contracts let to a number of different contractors, each using its own platform, it might be more accurately called an “extended family” of cousins rather than a single common platform. Even so, each MRAP is intended for multiple configurations and missions, from heavy-armored ground ambulance to special operations command (SOCOM) vehicle, troop transport to combat engineering.
Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) – As a replacement for DoD’s obsolete, maintenance-heavy fleet, the 5-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle and 2.5-ton Light Tactical Vehicle perform local and long-haul, unit mobility and resupply and other combat, combat support, and combat service support unit missions. Three truck variants and two companion trailers comprise air-droppable, all-climate, all-terrain transport with logistics-friendly commonality of tires and parts.
CV90 Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) – Originally built for the Swedish Army by BAE Land Systems, this 20-to-35 ton vehicle is in service with several nations in models ranging from IFV and light tank to forward observation and C2.
M109 Self-Propelled Howitzer – First introduced in the early 1960s, the M109 has gone through a number of iterations, currently in service with the U.S. Army as the Paladin, M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle (FAASV) and Fire Support Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (FSCATT); with Switzerland as the KAWEST; the Netherlands as the M109L52; and South Korea as the K55/K55A1.
U.K. Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance-Tracked (CVR-T) – Five British Army variants: Scimitar MK 2 reconnaissance vehicle, Spartan troop carrier, Samson repair and recovery, Sultan command post, and Samaritan ambulance.
A Foxhound Light Protected Patrol Vehicle is pictured at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Foxhound was delivered to Camp Bastion for the first time on June 2, 2012. © Crown copyright
U.K. Foxhound – aka the Force Protection Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV), the Foxhound will replace the U.K. Snatch Land Rover. It is smaller than an MRAP, but larger than the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) now in development for the U.S. Army and Marines. Family variations also include ambulance and supply vehicles. It is the first British military vehicle to meet new Ministry of Defence Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) requirements for a single, standard digital electronic and electrical architecture for U.K. military vehicles.
South African Casspir – In service with 10 African, South American, and Asian nations, the blast-protected Casspir is at the heart of a wide family of vehicles. Those include APC, Ambulance, Blesbok Freighter/Weapons Platform, Duiker 5000-liter Tanker and Artillery Fire Control, Fire Support Team, 15-ton capacity Gemsbok Recovery, Mechem Mine-clearing, Mechem Explosives and Drug Detection System Mine Sensor, Mechem Vehicular Array Mine Detection System, Plofadder Mine-clearing System, Riot Control, and Mechem Low-Profile/short-wheelbase vehicles.
Italian Iveco SuperAV 8×8 Wheeled Vehicle – A private development by Italy’s Iveco Defence Vehicles, which developed the VBM Freccia 8×8 wheeled IFV that entered service with the Italian Army in 2009, the SuperAV can carry 12 soldiers and a driver as an APC. However, it also can be modified for a variety of other family missions, including mortar carrier, ambulance, anti-tank, engineer, recovery, and command post vehicles. It currently is in service with or being considered by Italy, Brazil, and the United States (as a possible replacement for the USMC LAV-25 in three variants – MPC-Personnel, MPC-Command, and MPC-Recovery).