MRAPs going to Iraq on Russian cargo planes

[unhappycamper]

C-17 Globemasters capable of carrying new MRAPs are in short supply.


MRAPs going to Iraq on Russian cargo planes
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 26, 2007 17:29:47 EDT

The Air Force has been forced to use Russian commercial cargo jets to rush mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles from the U.S. to Iraq because it does not have enough C-5 and C-17 planes to do the job, the service’s top civilian official said recently.

Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said at an Oct. 24 House Armed Services Committee hearing that American reliance on Russian Antonov jumbo jets to move critical war supplies indicates that the Air Force may need more than its current 300 C-5s and C-17s.

“We are now sharing the mission of flying MRAPs over to Iraq between C-17s and Antonov airplanes,” Wynne said. “Did truly envision that we would fly war supplies with Russian-made airplanes? I don’t know.”

MRAP vehicles are the Defense Department’s top procurement priority, and the department this month ordered an additional 2,400 to help protect American servicemembers from roadside bombs in Iraq. The department has said it needs 15,274 MRAPs for all the services.

Wynne said the U.S. military has used the enormous Antonov planes to transport more than 200,000 pounds of cargo to Iraq.

Rep. Jim Saxton, R-N.J., said he was unaware that the Antonov airplanes are being used so extensively in the war effort.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/airforce_MRAP_russian_071026w/



uhc comment: I wonder how many of our tax dollars are used to transport MRAPs on Russian aircraft. The MRAPs that average $1,000,000 a pop. The MRAPs that don't fit on cargo ships. Do a search on 'MRAP' in this forum and you'll see what's going on with these bad boys.

[NYVet]

1. Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

Since we don't have the airlift capability to move the vehicles, how would you suggest that we get them to theater?




And if we didn't move them as fast as we can, you would scream about it as well.

[unhappycamper]

2. Well, for starters, the Marines don't have a clue how to use them

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=5547

[NYVet]

4. That isn't an answer to my question

I asked how we should move them to theater.

[unhappycamper]

5. Why?

They don't how to use them.

[NYVet]

6. Again you ignore the question.

Answering that the Marines don't know how to use them is ignoring my question on how you think that we should move them to Iraq.

The last time I checked, we had more than just Marines in Iraq. There are Navy, Air Force, and I think we also have a Coast Guard detachment there that might be able to use the MRAPs if the Marines don't want to use them.

[demommom]

7. They probably had never tossed a grenade when they joined up.

TRAINING!!

[TheBaldyMan]

3. Russian air-lift capability might be better suited to this heavy lifting

Antonov cargo planes were designed to carry lightly armoured loads, unlike the US counterparts. The decks are reinforced to facilitate armoured vehicle air-transport.

Because of the Afghan and Iraqi wars the US doesn't have spare strategic airlift capacity, it probably makes sense to use (I'm guessing) Ukranian & Polish aeroplanes.

[demommom]

8. Once again, I DO NOT CARE HOW THEY GET THEM THERE......

just GET THEM THERE~!!