Developed in the early 2000s, the M1079 MRAP truck was engineered by BAE Systems as a test bed for future development of wheeled armored vehicles. The Stuart and Stevenson’s M1079 truck became the perfect test platform for the titanium hull attached to the vehicle’s rear body. This titanium hull would serve to test crew comfort, armored hull functionality, seat and crew positions, as well a number of Nuclear-Biological-Chemical (NBC) sealing practices. Ultimately, this test hull would lead to the development of the MRAP truck variants seen around the globe.
The MRAP was designed to have a defensive armament - similar to a HUMVEE - of a single turret mounted weapon such as an M2 .50 Caliber Machine Gun or an M240 7.62MM Machine Gun.
Built by United Defense in San Jose, CA, the vehicle operates on a 275HP CAT C7 7.2 Liter engine. The whole vehicle weighs in at 13 tons with a top speed of 65 MPH.
The highly flexible design of the MRAP means that anyone trained on it can operate it. The vehicle can deploy with a driver, gunner, and a contingent of 7 soldiers in the back of the vehicle.
The Eagle Field Foundation is a California based 501C3 non-profit, all volunteer organization with a focus in education through the restoration and preservation of military artifacts, vehicles, and stories from the early 1900’s to Present Day.
