HMMWV Remains Dominant Despite MRAP Craze

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- The international market for light wheeled combat vehicles remains a highly competitive and dynamic environment. In its annual analysis "The Market for Light Wheeled Vehicles" the Forecast International Weapons Group expects the market will produce over 71,300 light wheeled vehicles, worth in excess of $21.789 billion, through 2017.>> Since 2005, the Forecast International Weapons Group has considered the impact of the AM General High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle on the light wheeled vehicle market. Prior to the emergence of the global war on terror, the HMMWV served as essentially a utility vehicle, not a dedicated combat vehicle. However, in the asymmetric warfare environment of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, circumstances are forcing the HMMWV to evolve into a light armored vehicle.>> Dean Lockwood, a weapons systems analyst at Forecast International, notes that the HMMWV has a significant impact on the overall market. As the market statistics clearly indicate, the HMMWV will utterly dominate the market during the forecast period," Lockwood said. "We expect the HMMWV will account for 67.76 percent of all light wheeled vehicle production worldwide, worth a commanding 34.18 percent of the market value, through 2017.>> Despite the dominance of the HMMWV, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program has emerged as the short-term star of the market. Through September 2008, the U.S. Department of Defense has placed orders for 15,197 MRAP vehicles, with deliveries to be complete in 2009. The total value of all MRAP-related contract awards through September 2008 is nearly $12.406 billion.