Yahoo Autos U.S. Army Airborne Combat Teams Set to Get New Ground Mobility Vehicle
The U.S. Army’s five airborne infantry brigade combat teams are about to receive new vehicles in the form of the new Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV). Designed to carry troops away from a drop zone in a hurry, the new air-droppable vehicles were originally procured for Special Forces but have found a new home. Military Times reports that non-airborne infantry forces will receive the vehicles next.
The Flyer Advanced Light Strike Vehicle was General Dynamics’ submission to fulfill the Army’s requirements for the GMV 1.1. The Flyer is designed as a high-performance, four-wheel-drive vehicle for traveling across rough terrain. A sturdy vehicle with a roll-cage-like body, the Flyer has a top speed of 95 mph, a range of 300 miles, and a DOHC twin-turbocharged diesel 2.0-liter engine generating 195 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
Here’s a video of the Flyer in action:
The GMV is meant to take soldiers where other vehicles can’t. It can scale a 60-degree grade and ford 30 inches of water. It features 19 inches of ground clearance, coil-over dampers, and an adjustable independent suspension. It has a 55.5-degree approach angle and a 53.1-degree departure angle. For increased cross-country mobility, it is fitted with limited-slip front and limited-slip locking rear differentials.
The GMV can accommodate up to nine troops, including the driver, meaning it can ferry an entire airborne infantry squad. It has a curb weight of 5200 pounds and can haul a 5700-pound payload. In turn, it is transportable inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and can be airdropped out of a C-130 and larger air transports. The vehicle in Army images is shown equipped with an M2 .50-caliber heavy machine gun and an M240 7.62-millimeter medium machine gun.
According to Military Times, the first 300 vehicles will be divvied up to the U.S. Army’s five airborne brigade combat teams-the three brigades of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg; the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Alaska; and the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Italy. A second buy of 1700 GMVs will be deployed across other divisions of the U.S. Army if the purchase is approved.
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The airborne forces’ GMVs are apparently lacking some of the bells and whistles of the original vehicles provided to Special Forces. Exactly what those are is unknown but may include heavy weapons mounts, greater fuel capacity, and more electrical power.
A version of this story originally appeared on Popular Mechanics.
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