Is there a choice of colors?

By Dale McFeatters, Scripps Howard News Service - 03/30/2007

Not to diminish the underlying seriousness of it, but there is a certain “boys with toys” mentality to developing military equipment, especially stuff that moves.

Defense contractors have provided the Army with four “concept vehicles,” two utility trucks and two “maneuver sustainment vehicles” — can the Army name things or what? — to test at Fort Lewis, Wash., as possible successors to the current Humvee and Hemmet.

According to the AP, the test vehicles can charge through water and over rough terrain. They have bigger tires and heavier armor, remote-controlled weapons system, night vision capability, video cameras, touch screen controls, ballistic glass and better blast resistance. And they come with hybrid power plants, diesel for just driving around and the quieter electric for sneaking up on people. One of the trucks has a robotic arm capable of lifting 13 tons.

We have just one question: When will the civilian version be ready?

— Dale McFeatters, Scripps Howard News Service