Life-saving military investment

America's excellence in military technology, a critical national strength since the middle of World War II, doesn't always deliver the sweeping benefits it once did to our armed forces as they struggle in an unorthodox 21st century conflict against terrorism. But the U.S. troops whose lives and limbs have been saved by "Mine Resistant Ambush Protected" vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan know that cutting-edge technology remains a vital weapon in their arsenal. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates rightly hails the remarkable capabilities of MRAPs in reinforcing his decision, a year ago, to make acquiring and using more of them a top priority.

USA Today, citing Pentagon statistics, reported Monday that troops in Humvees suffer casualties at a 22 percent rate when attacked.

But troops in MRAPs — a family of armored vehicles designed to minimize the damage inflicted by the IEDs (improvised explosive devices) commonly used by terrorists and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan — suffer casualties at only a 6 percent rate. A raised chassis and V-shaped hull, in the article's words, "deflect the force" of those buried bombs, "the top killer of U.S. troops in Iraq."

Clearly, putting more MRAPs in the field, even at roughly $1 million each, is a worthy investment that our soldiers and Marines understandably support. Secretary Gates told USA Today: "They are considered the vehicle of choice. I had a wounded warrior who was here for a lunch a couple of weeks ago who was going around telling anybody who looked like they were in a position of authority that an MRAP had saved his life."

MRAP manufacturers continue to improve an already impressive product. For instance, Force Protection, a Ladson-based firm that manufactures MRAPs, recently committed $5 million to a partnership with MUSC to study the nature of brain injuries and craft new ways to minimize their occurrence. Such research could help more troops not just survive but emerge from their hazardous duty without serious physical harm.

Yes, in an ever-changing world, yesterday's military technology doesn't necessarily fit the challenges our armed forces face today and tomorrow. But the success of MRAPs shows that American technological know-how is still a life-saving asset for the men and women who fight our military battles.