Article Posted on : - Oct 01, 2010

A file photo

DALLAS (BNS): US armed forces are ready for initial in-theater deployment of Lockheed’s Common Vehicle Next Generation (CVNG), an armed lightweight military vehicle into service.

The CVNG is an upgraded configuration of the High Mobility Transport vehicle, which is in use by US and allied armed forces.

The company has delivered the vehicles to US armed forces in June 2010.

The upgraded vehicles has received enhanced blast and ballistic armor protection.

The CVNG’s innovative and modular design delivers high levels of reliability and ease of maintenance. The vehicle easily supports five occupants plus a main gunner. Its open cab offers a 360-degree fighting platform, but armored panels enclose the cab for better protection.

CVNG has a removable third axel with a reconfigured modular cargo deck optimised for larger items. The lightweight vehicle is internally transportable on C-130, C-5, CH-53 and CH-47.

“Our CVNG upgrades increase situational awareness, mobility, agility and top speed, and it’s ready for use by our soldiers in the world’s most extreme environments," MaryLynne Lubinger, programme manager for CVNG at Lockheed Martin said.

The new vehicle is designed to overmatch the threat from anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices. The Blast Limiting and Attenuation Seat Technology (BLASTech) mine/Improvised Explosive Device (IED) are the key survivability components upgraded in the vehicle.