The grizzled, gas-guzzling Humvee is to be saved from retirement by the US military with a multi-million-dollar upgrade plan to extend its life into the next war.
The battlefield veteran, which was a rugged mainstay in both wars in Iraq as well as in Afghanistan despite its poor armour and survivability, has for years been scheduled to be replaced with a tougher, new generation vehicle that can protect soldiers better against insurgents’ bomb attacks.
However, the Pentagon has asked Congress for $36 million to keep an upgraded Humvee ferrying troops into battle. Military chiefs are so set on keeping it trundling along that they have suggested that $20 million comes from the budget of the programme to find a replacement, known as the joint
