The DOD recently revealed a new vehicle specifically designed for use in the harsh war-torn environment in Afghanistan, but maybe someday there will be some hope that these vehicles can be acquired for use by private citizens, just as the original Hummer was. Why? Because it would be the perfect vehicle to hunt down nature’s most violent storms.

And I’m not kidding. We’re all familiar with that somewhat armored car on The Discovery Channel with the rotating turret on the roof equipped for an IMAX camera? Well, this new vehicle has a rotating turret as well (designed for a large gun of course) and it makes that current storm chasing vehicle look like a toy!

It’s called the M-ATV, or the “Baby MRAP”. It can reportedly withstand IED attacks, it generates its own electrical power for a lot of gear and it never gets a flat tire! And – it looks mean! In fact, if a tornado saw this thing coming at it – it might scare the tornado!

Here are some of the details:

• Commercial turbo charged V8 diesel engine
• Top speed of 80 mph
• Best-in-class fuel economy (although I’m not sure what else is in its class).
• Fully independent suspension (offers better mobility than traditional MRAPs, which have straight axle systems)
• Can generate 20 kilowatts of exportable power for mission equipment
• Composite armor system developed by Batelle and Protected Vehicles, Inc. and is reported to be IED resistant.
• Infrared Cameras

Hopefully it will do the job it was designed to do – to keep our troops safe while they are doing their jobs. And, when they’re done with them, maybe we’ll see a few on our highways across America. I sure wouldn’t mind owning a few!

Tags: oddbeats, storm chasing