Every war is based on a will to fight and win, an army, tons and tons of weapons and ammo, and military vehicles to move around and attack the enemy locations.
Although there is no third World War in sight yet (and let’s keep it that way), there are always some armed conflicts somewhere, and even peacekeeping forces need top-notch armed vehicles capable of keeping soldiers safe and sound.
Of course, military vehicles have to be tough and bulletproof but also capable of overcoming rugged terrain in the most hostile weather conditions. Here we will cover some of the best land-going vehicles and see who is who in the world of war.
Best Military Vehicles by Country
As the military industry is a highly profitable business, weapon and military vehicle manufacturers have been battling to stay on top and get the best contracts since forever. The annual worldwide budget required to buy military equipment is mind-blowing, even though we live in the so-called free world.
It’s then easy to understand why there is fierce competition between specialized military vehicle manufacturers to grab as many contracts as possible. But what are the vehicles that the top military forces use for “bringing peace” back into war-stricken countries? Unsurprisingly, some of the specs are top secret, so it’s not that easy to analyze which is the toughest and most capable military vehicle.
But let’s give it a try!
US Military Vehicles
Humvee
You can’t talk about the toughest and most capable military vehicles without mentioning the legendary Humvee. Sure, we all picture the former governor of California driving a Humvee with a cigar in his mouth, which is fine for marketing purposes. Still, that stubborn all-terrain vehicle really brought military vehicles closer to civilians, though not in a way that it was initially purposed.
Manufactured by AM General LLC, it took over from Jeep, another American legend that successfully transferred from the military to the civil segment, offering a whole range replacing previous military vehicles. However, it was not very comfortable inside due to the 16 inches of ground clearance that put driveline components high in a wide channel between the occupants.
Nonetheless, combined with a legendary 4WD, a mighty wheelbase, and a wider track than most military vehicles at the time, the higher clearance gave the Humvee excellent maneuverability in mountainous terrains as well as deserts and sand dunes.
And if you thought that that the Humvee is now gone and forgotten, do not worry, as we’ll see its resurrection in the form of a modern Hummer EV soon—it will most certainly not be used in the military segment this time, though.
International MaxxPro
Although not as well-known as the Humvee, the International MaxxPro is a heavily armored vehicle with similar, if not better, off-road capabilities that can also withstand serious assaults. It has that Mad Max look with those steel rod-protected windows, tall and grooved tires, heavy-duty steel fenders (hell, it got enough steel to make a small car out of it), heavy armor, and bulletproof glass.
And although the Humvee used engines from major car manufacturers, International develops its own engine units under the name MaxxForce. This just shows the level of dedication that these guys have.
Furthermore, the all-wheel-drive system assures that you don’t stop after you survive all those land mines, thanks to the V-shaped crew capsule. Depending on the category classification (Category I or Category II), it can transport 4-6 people and a gunner.
Oshkosh L-ATV
These angry-looking mean machines are ready to fight no matter what environment they are in. The Oshkosh is the most modern of the lot as it’s been designed recently, hoping to do better than its predecessors. The Humvee was remarkable for its time but was designed for old-fashioned war, not so much for deserts full of minefields. Sure, you can add a mine resistance armor to the good old Humvee. Still, there is just as much weight you can add to a vehicle until it starts to negatively impact its original usability and practicality. Indeed an armored Humvee can weigh up to 13.000 pounds. Similarly, the International MaxxPro is safe on a minefield, but its size is a significant drawback when it comes to mobility.
On the other hand, the Oshkosh L-ATV combines the agility of the Humvee and the mine resistance of the MaxxPro, and even adds to it. Besides, it also destroyed the other two contenders in the reliability test.
The pass the reliability test, a military vehicle requires at least 2.400 miles between operational mission failures. And while Lockheed Martin JLTV managed to get an unsatisfying 1,271 miles between failures, AM General BRV-O broke down at measly 526 miles. That’s a worse reliability rating than every student’s worst nightmare from the 90s—the Zastava Yugo! (It was an old joke back in the days. If your grades were bad enough, your parents would buy you a Yugo for graduation. Go figure.) Back to the Oshkosh L-ATV, its repairing cycle reached a mighty 7,051 miles—a significant accomplishment if you compare it with the previous two.
Russian Military Vehicles
Typhoon Airborne
As usual, Russians put all kinds of modern technology in their beast. It even has LED front lights for those glorious Russian tycoons that like the style as much as they like Kalashnikov!
Jokes aside, there is serious tech incorporated here. The V-shaped mine-resistant underbody is obligatory, but its hydropneumatic suspension, laser rangefinder for aiming targets, and thermal camera offer much more than your regular Lada.
The 350HP Kamaz engine is another bonus. Kamaz is a well-proven winner year after year on the most demanding Dakar rally, proving its superior reliability and drivability.
GAZ Tigr
As the “tiger” reference implies, GAZ intended to produce an armored military vehicle with better maneuverability on rugged terrain than any other. It is one of the lightest military vehicles out there, and as such, has great all-terrain capabilities, no matter if it’s a mountain road or dunes.
Moreover, an automatic tire inflation system enables to change lower the tire pressure for even greater traction on various terrain conditions. Worth mentioning, thanks to a top speed of 90 mph, the Tigr is one of the fastest as well. The range of 600 miles is also quite helpful while hunting down enemies of motherland Russia!
British Military Vehicles
Force Protection Ocelot (Foxhound)
Weighing around 7.5 tons, this military vehicle became known as the Foxhound, a token of its agility. Tested through deserts blasted with mines, it showed a great level of resistance and stubbornness. Its armor will protect all 2+4 occupants from flying bullets and transport them safely, thanks to the 6-pot Steyr diesel engine. Meanwhile, the 1 million dollars price tag reminds us how expensive war business is—and how unnecessary it is as well in that sense.
Land Rover Wolf
We’ve got the Russian Tiger, and now we have the British Wolf. Of course, wolves are smaller than tigers, and as expected, this is the lightest vehicle in the list—this one fits where others just can’t.
The Wolf is based on the Land Rover Defender, although with beefed-up parts to withstand all that beating from rough terrains. It looks like any other regular Defender, except that everything is reinforced and bespoke. The capability to take only 3 chaps on a mission also shows a totally different approach to combat. There is a place for a gunner, a driver, and a commander—that’s it!
South African Military Vehicles
Matador (APC)
Yeah, Africa produces military vehicles too—and not just any kind of military vehicle. This Hummer on steroids can safely carry a 12 + 2 crew through a storm of bullets and mines, hence the name (APC means “armored personnel carrier”).
Moreover, its V-shaped hull can withstand 14 kg of TNT blast or 21 kg under any wheel. For reference, one anti-tank mine weighs 7 kg. Even 7.62 mm armor-piercing bullets can’t do zilch to the Matador’s armored body and bulletproof glass.
The Cummins diesel engine with almost 300HP helps the Matador transport soldiers almost anywhere, and the all-wheel-drive system is there to make sure it actually gets there safe and sound. Worth mentioning, it’s also available in 4, 6, or 8 wheels configuration, depending on the client’s need (and budget).
Marauder
Next on the list is another African military vehicle by the name of the Marauder. A suitable name, hey? The welded V-shaped steel hull is at the core of the Marauder, ensuring nothing stands in its way. It can transport up to 8 passengers plus 2 crew members and move its own weight of 9 tons, plus an extra 6 tons of equipment without a problem.
The unprecedented field capabilities make it usable under challenging terrains, such as dunes, in which the Marauder excels. Besides, with an autonomy of more than 400 miles, no need to start looking for a petrol station in war conditions.
And if you have about $400,000 lying around, you can even buy the damn thing for personal use and hoon it down your neighbor’s alley like a true Terminator (ask Richard Hammond about his experience with this monster).
For many, the Marauder is the toughest and most capable military vehicle in the world—but of course, that’s open for debate.
Last Words
We’ve come to our (God forbids) “last words”—a very convenient subtitle for this topic.
It’s important to keep in mind that each of these unique vehicles can save lives (but also take some) in the most difficult terrains around the world. But politics aside (we ain’t here for that), military trucks are by far the toughest and most capable vehicles out there. After all, in a war setting, how well you can drive on rough terrain and get out of a sticky situation can sometimes make the difference between life and death for the personnel on the front line.
And what about you? If you had to rely on a truck to bring you back to base camp, what would be your weapon of choice?
