MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) are a family of vehicles produced by a variety companies. They are youngest battle vehicles that have been entered on battlefields of 21st century, but firsts MRAPs was developed in the early seventies of 20th century in armed forces of Republic of South Africa. Intense development these constructions in the beginning of 21st century was initiate by new, highly effective way of fighting which was put into practise Islamic guerillas and terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. They focused on attacks on vehicles of allied forces by homemade mines – so-called improvised explosive devices (IEDs). New weapon turned out to be a surprisingly effective and allied forces was completely not prepared for such a development of events – most wheeled vehicles of US Army was not armored.
As an immediate remedy Pentagon soon launched a program VHA (Vehicle Hardening Program). The armor protection of the vehicle include mine protection, roadside bombs and ballistic protection of the full, roof protection from overhead airburst and side protection against fragmentation and blast.
On October 1, 2012, the Pentagon officially closed the MRAP production line. As of that date, 27,740 MRAP vehicles of all types had rolled off the assembly lines of seven manufacturers, and 12,726 vehicles were still in the Afghanistan theater of operations.