Navistar International MaxxPro

Navistar International MaxxPro History

Navistar Defense's international truck "MaxxPro" is a Mine Resistant Ambush Protection (MRAP) vehicle classified as an Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) used by many armed forces around the world. The purpose of MRAP is not only to protect the crew from small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), but also from the dreaded improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The term "improvised explosive device" was first coined by the British Army in the 1970s, when the Irish Provisional Republican Army (IRA) was a gorilla unit that used makeshift bombs made from agricultural fertilizer and fuel to booby-trapped explosives for use against Traditional ground forces British.

In Somalia and later in Iraq and Afghanistan, US troops patrolling lightly armoured Humvees were hit by improvised explosive devices, causing heavy casualties. Many field modifications were later carried out by aircrews themselves when the official "armor upgrade" program proved too slow to develop along traditional DoD lines.

Crews scoured car junk yards for metal and even asked relatives in the north to mail bulletproof vests. The IED design was more complex than the later, heavier, "reinforced armor" Humvees, as these vehicles no longer provided adequate basic protection for their occupants.

The MaxxPro MRAP is one of a long list of armored vehicles that are now being procured in large quantities by the US military. The MaxxPro was designed by American automotive company International Truck (Navistar International) and Israeli company Plasan to withstand small arms fire and extend coverage to mine blasts, improvised explosive device detonations and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC). An environment that threatens or otherwise affects the safety of vehicle occupants.

The first vehicles were delivered to the Army and Marine Corps for testing in 2007, with several variants allowing interchangeability of parts and armor customization kits to vary the level of protection available depending on the mission. More than 9,000 of these vehicles have been procured to date (2013) and thousands are currently in service with the U.S. military and some allies. Deployed in all theaters, these armored vehicles replaced aging Humvees as the U.S.

Army's standard wheeled vehicle. HUMVEE is now intended for use in non-combat areas - mainly in the US and Europe.

The MaxxPro base is classified as a "Category 1" MRAP vehicle and is equipped with a crew compartment, which features a "V-shaped" fuselage that does not extend into the engine compartment. The specially designed V-shaped fuselage is designed to divert the undercarriage blast from the pod compartment - a design perfected by the South African military and its Defence Forces during the bloody jungle warfare. The armor used on the MaxxPro is designed and manufactured by Plasan, a company that has been building armored vehicles since 1985. The hull is not based on welded steel plates, but uses bolts to enable quick repairs and even faster upgrades in the field.

Steel armor cover protects against direct rifle fire, RPG shells and improvised explosive devices. The vehicle uses an International WorkStar 7000 truck chassis and is powered by an International MaxxForce D9. 3I6 turbocharged, air-cooled, four-stroke diesel engine with electronic direct injection producing 330 hp. Auto parts are commercially available. The engine is mated to an Allison 3000 five-speed automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer case and semi-oval leaf spring suspension.

The wheelbase is 153 inches, the ground clearance is 14 inches from the center of the vehicle, and the allowable wading depth is 36 inches. Curb weight is 37,850 lbs (17,168 kg).

For self-defense, the MaxxPro can be equipped with a roof-mounted, shielded, rotatable machine gun turret capable of holding a 7.62mm medium machine gun or a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. For nighttime promotions, 'Blackout' lights have been added along with the Diamond Logic electrical system. The backup power system uses four 12-volt batteries and a 400-amp alternator. The full air brake with ABS is activated while driving, and when parking, the air-activated hand brake acts on the rear axle.

The wheel brand of choice was Hutchinson Runflat with a single Michelin 395/85R20 XZL all-round tire.

The 2008 MaxxPro Plus is a dual rear wheel version of the MaxxPro designed to offset the greater rear load. There is also a special armored ambulance variant of this model.

The MaxxPro Dash is a more compact MaxxPro design with limited size and lightweight specs - these debuted with USMC in late 2008. The MaxxPro XL is a "Type 2" MRAP that is larger and heavier than the original base shape.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Armor

Depends on weapon.

Changes