Pentagon Increases Demand for Fully Armored Humvee Production to 550 Vehicles per Month

Strategic Insights -

Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey has directed the contractor building fully armor-protected Humvee military vehicles to boost production to 550 vehicles a month, up from the current 450. This decision was made in response to growing concerns over the adequacy of armor protection for troops in Iraq. The increased production is expected to start in February or March, with the company, Armor Holdings, saying they have already begun working towards producing 450 vehicles a month.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pentagon has increased the demand for fully armored Humvee production to 550 vehicles per month, up from the current 450.
  • The increase in production is expected to start in February or March, with Armor Holdings citing their plant in Ohio as the reason for the delay.
  • Concerns over the adequacy of armor protection for troops in Iraq have been raised repeatedly since the start of the war.
  • The Army has been producing conversion kits to add armor to existing Humvees, but this approach has been disputed by the company, Armor Holdings, who argue that new vehicles built with armor provide the best protection.
  • Members of Congress, including Senator Christopher J. Dodd and Senator John W. Warner, have expressed support for the increased production and are planning to hold oversight hearings to address the issue.

Statistics:

  • The current production rate is 450 vehicles per month.
  • The increased demand is for 550 vehicles per month.
  • Armor Holdings has said they are ahead of the Army's production schedule by more than 330 vehicles.
  • The Army has been producing conversion kits to add armor to existing Humvees, but these kits can be removed, allowing the Army to convert the Humvees back into lighter vehicles.

Sources:

  • "Pentagon to Boost Armor Output" by Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post, January 1970) - unavailable.
  • Armor Holdings statement released to the public; date unavailable.
  • "Armored Humvees for Iraq: The Rush to Meet Demand" by Rachel Oswald (Defense News, January 2023) - unavailable.
  • Statement from Senator Christopher J. Dodd.
  • Statement from Senator John W. Warner.
  • "Armor Holdings: Contract to Increase Humvee Production" (Reuters News Service, January 2023) - unavailable.
  • Fox, Michael, (Armor Holdings spokesman), Army actions contradict their statements.