US Army SmarTruck

siume99 · January 12, 2002

I was reading this the other day in my local paper:

"....next-generation, multipurpose military vehicle that could evove into a heavyduty pickup for civilians. The Natinoal Automotive Center made its debut Tuesday at hte North American International Auto Show, highlighting projects - such as the SmarTruck built by MSX International - under development with companies including the Big Three automakers."

It can:

-deploy a smoke screen, oil slick and tire puncturing tacks to get away from pursuing vehicles (tailgaters)

-All-wheel steering helps for tight turns and for towing trailers

-bulletproof glass, kevlar armor, pepper spray fired from doors and electric shock door handles protect occupants within (to stop rocks from semi's and to prevent paw prints)

-turret-mounted laser used to clear mine fields (slow moving cars in left hand lane )

-special aluminum alloy helps prevent attempts to booby-trap the vehicle with explosives (with this feature, you will never trip the green light at stop lights )

-satellite and GPS navigation capabilities (umm like OnStar?)

-night vision cameras to see surroundings (duh)

-black box to record all events and electonic surveillance

-voice activated radios, cell phones and windows

-touchscreens use electronic fingerprint ID to limit operations to authorized persons

-super-bright lights to blind enemy (deer hunt'n )

here are some sites I found that have pics:

http://www.worldwidearmor.com/smartruck.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi....402.stm

http://www.detroitnews.com/2001/macomb/010.../d05-197451.htm

gandolphxx · January 12, 2002

Finally the secret is out - the cladding on the AV is really Kevlar - the side saddles on the bedside are for dual laser cannons/grenade launchers - the fog lights are dummy covers for horizontal launch stingers - and if I told you what is hidden under the bed covers, I would have to kill you - now you know what a true Urban Assault Vehicle is

It is also good for picking up girls in Minsk!

BTW, the so called "blue smoke problem" is just an adjustment issue for the real thing. A little premature you know what I mean...

DigUout · January 12, 2002

It is also good for picking up girls in Minsk!

I wanna party with you. Me...you...together? Forget about it!

Seems like the perfect vehicle to elude that pesky ex-wife and alimony attorney -

gandolphxx · January 12, 2002

DigUout - I agree - only double dates - what everyone has missed is the AV was built from two sets of specs.

1. The Army -UAV as above. Note the aircraft sandwich design of the tonneau cover will nicely anchor a pair of servo 50's plus crew. The full length bed is just right to carry "roll off" cluster bombs. Thats why the tailgate is on a hair trigger. If you get the sun roof and roof rack [heavy duty] you can mount 4 Phoenix "fire and forget missiles" up there and drop the control wire thru the sunroof at min opening.

2. The other investor was the Mafia - great crew wagon - drop the midgate and pop up with guns blazing - then slide the stiffs into the full length covered bed without having to deal with rigormortis problems. The 3/4 ton model also carries the cement blocks without unsightly sag.

BTW: Coroners are becoming real interested - work/party truck.

Who do you think is buying these things.

chevy4x4trucks · January 12, 2002

Wow, now that sounds great. I'm going to have to get me one of those. Just in case of course... But the real question is, is it potato proof?

gandolphxx · January 12, 2002

Both versions provide protection from small to medium mm range potatoes - 9 coats of Zaino will provide additional protection.

siume99 · January 12, 2002

The Zaino wasn't mentioned.....since it is TOP SECRET. Quiet about that now. The all-wheel steering really helps in those tight alleys (when it didn't go down like it should)

NewbieZ71 · January 12, 2002

What kind of CD player does it have?

New at NADA show · January 12, 2002

A lot of people may not know it. But the military truck was first shown at the SAE. Interior Tier Suppler show at COBO months ago.

You can still get information on the vehicle at www.sae.org

A great site.

colosilverado · January 12, 2002

If it doesn't have a GAU/8(?), I'm not interested. Maybe a few Hellfire would be nice, or maybe a couple of T.O.W.s.

Can you imagine the HP it would take to keep the truck going if it had that gun on it? Heck, if the casings were ejected out into the open, they would do quite a bit of damage on their own.