Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) Vehicles: Background and Issues for Congress

In late 2007, the Department of Defense DOD launched a major procurement initiative to replace most up-armored High Mobility, Multi-Wheeled Vehicles HMMWVs in Iraq with Mine- Resistant, Ambush-Protected MRAP vehicles by FY2009. MRAPs have been described as providing significantly more protection against Improvised Explosive Devices IEDs than uparmored HMMWVs. Currently, DOD has approved an acquisition of objective of 25,700 vehicles, of which 8,100 are the newer Military-All-Terrain Vehicle M-ATV version designed to meet the challenges of Afghanistans rugged terrain. DOD officials have indicated that this total may be increased depending upon the operational needs in Afghanistan. Through FY2010, Congress appropriated 34.95 billion for all versions of the MRAP. In March 2010, DOD reprogrammed an additional 3.9 billion from the Overseas Contingency Operations fund to MRAP procurement. Both the House and Senate have now approved an additional 1.2 billion for MRAP procurement included in the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act H.R. 4899. The full FY2011 DOD budget request of 3.4 billion for the MRAP Vehicle Fund has been authorized by the House H.R. 5136. The Senate Armed Services Committee has recommended approval of DODs request, though floor action has not yet occurred. The DOD budget request remains under consideration by both House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Among potential issues for congressional consideration are the disposition of MRAPs among active forces, pre-positioned stocks, and U.S. allies adequacy of logistical support rate of vehicle production from a sole source and contract oversight.