Ford Ranger and Others Joining U.S. Military as War Vehicles

Earlier this month, Battelle Memorial Institute was awarded a new contract with the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to build Non Standard Commercial Vehicles (NSCVs) for the U.S. military. The deal for the Ohio-based company pays out $170 million through five years and could mean more than 500 new vehicles.

The announcement details that Battelle will be building what are known as commercial off-the-shelf vehicles that include the Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Hilux crew-cab pickups, and Ford Ranger pickups. But they’re not talking about today’s $85,000 lux Land Cruiser. These will be the old Land Cruiser 76 and 79 models. You know, the good ones.

These vehicles will be built to support armor, heavier suspension and brakes, fun-flat tires, vetronics, and extra communications equipment that includes surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance gear.. They’ll also get infrared lighting and “blackout mode.” Despite having the same look, about four out of every five vehicles will have extensive armor.

via [Military and Aerospace]