Armored vehicles: why so slow?

• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.
• Position: Washington PULSE - Brief article

Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., has for several months been asking Pentagon officials to explain why they can't deploy mine-resistant vehicles to Iraq fast enough. "How is it possible that with more than 130,000 Americans in danger, with roadside bombs destroying ... lives and limbs, we were so slow to act to protect our troops?" Biden asked in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Defense officials have cited industrial capacity issues and steel availability as impediments to increasing production. But according to industry insiders, the reason why MRAP production cannot be rapidly accelerated is that vehicles have to comply...