July 29,
2008: Some 12 ton Cougar 6x6 MRAPs (Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected) have been modified and used successfully as RVSs
(Reconnaissance Vehicle Systems). These are used for combat reconnaissance
(along a road that might have roadside bombs) as well as route clearance
(getting rid of the roadside bombs). To that end, the RVS is equipped with a
remotely controlled (from inside the RVS) 12.7mm machine-gun turret, blue force
tracker (to see where all other friendly vehicles are) and several external
vidcams. The most interesting feature is a robot deployment and recovery
system. The robot has its own armored compartment, and it can exit the RVS,
check out a suspected roadside bomb, and return to the RVS, all without
exposing any of the human crew to enemy fire.
Basically,
RVS is a 12 ton truck that is hardened to survive bombs and mines. The Cougar
can get troops into combat situations where mines, explosives or any kind of
obstacle, have to be cleared, or just survived. The RVS was designed to carry
16 troops, but with all the extra equipment, normally carries fewer than ten.
The RVSs cost about a million dollars each, and have been very successful in
combat.
