Armor: June 27, 2003

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: The airmen of 87th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, providing security for the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa flight line and air assets, are using the M1116 Up-Armored HMMWV. The M1116 Up-Armored HMMWV is a variant of the U.S. Army's M1114 Up-Armored HMMWV specifically designed and tailored to the needs of the U.S. Air Force. 

These 10,000-pound hardened versions of the utilitarian vehicle are proof against 7.62mm AP and have a rooftop turret capable of mounting the MK-19, M-2 and M-60, as well as the M-82A1 Barret 0.50 caliber rifle. The trade-off for the added protection is a loss of mobility, particularly in sandy areas. For the moment, that apparently doesn't effect the Camp Lemonier air security patrols.

The vehicles are also equipped with a Short Range Thermal Imagery system, for which a vehicle interface kit was only recently developed by 1LT Jose Corella of Hanscom Air Force Base's Force Protection Command and Control System Program Office. - Adam Geibel 

M1116 images online at:
http://www.ogara-hess.com/mil/m1116.htm