It's not just about fuels... development of easier-to-maintain systems would also be a big win. We have a lot of military equipment that needs maintenance time that is a multiple of operational time. Maintainence costs for the Marines have doubled in the last 15 years. IIRC, their AAVs, about which I've learned a bit lately, require about 10 hours of maintenance for every operational hour.
They were breaking down so much while crossing the countryside in Iraq that there was a lot of concern about what might happen if one broke down in combat.
You'll be happy to know, then, that the DoD is looking to dump the AAVP7A1s in favor of a new vehicle to be fielded after 2008: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/aaav.htm
I think its pretty slick, with a VERY USEFUL increase in firepower compared to the -7A1s (which are armed only with an M2HB .50CAL and a 40mm Mk.19 AGS). The only other thing I would have liked to have seen is an under-armor ATGM system, such as used on the Bradley and BMP-1/3 vehicles. I also think its about time, as the design of the current fleet of AAVs are pushing 35 years old...
Damon.
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Damon Agretto
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"Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum."
http://www.geocities.com/garrand.geo/index.html
Now Building: Revell of Germany's M60A3
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