Marines test new tactical vehicle that runs with NASCAR blood in its veins

Photo By Sgt. Michelle Reif | Members of the 22nd Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron carefully guide the drivers of the new Phantom Badger tactical vehicle into the tight space of the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during a fit test, Sept. 26, 2014. The vehicle has four-wheel drive and comes with four-wheel steering. This gives the vehicle the power to make extremely tight maneuvers, proven by its 24-foot turn radius. It is six inches narrower than a Mini Cooper, gets 21 miles to the gallon and can travel at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. This vehicle was designed to be loaded and unloaded quickly from an MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michelle M. Reif / Released)  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, UNITED STATES

09.26.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Michelle Reif 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. - Marines with the 22nd Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron performed a fit check on the Phantom Badger, a new high-performance tactical vehicle, Sept. 26, 2014.

The Phantom Badger is similar to the M1161 Internally Transportable Vehicle in use today, but an important difference is its ability to fit inside the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

The Marines tested how quickly and efficiently they could maneuver the vehicle in and out of the Osprey and tried out a few of the vehicle’s many features. The vehicle has four-wheel drive and comes with four-wheel steering. This gives the vehicle the power to make extremely tight maneuvers, proven by its 24-foot turn radius. It is six inches narrower than a Mini Cooper, gets 21 miles to the gallon and can travel at speeds up to 80 miles per hour.

“The Phantom Badger is a game changer,” said Garrett Kasper, a Boeing Spokesman for Phantom Works, located in St. Louis, Missouri. “What sets it apart from others is its reliability, power and versatility.”

Kasper said that the vehicle can be used for a wide range of missions including reconnaissance, search and rescue, casualty transport, or direct action utilizing mounted machine guns. The Phantom Badger is also capable of towing up to 4,000 lbs.

The Marines who were testing the vehicle were very impressed with its overall performance.

"It drives very smooth," said Lance Cpl. Michael Brown, native of Olathe, Kansas who serves as a maintainer with the 22nd Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron, who drove the vehicle into the Osprey. "It's also very easy to operate. I was able to jump right in and figure out how to drive it right away."

The adaptable vehicle was built with NASCAR blood in its veins, according to Kasper. He refers to the fact that the designer of the Phantom Badger, and president of MSI Defense Solutions, David Holden, comes from a NASCAR background. Just like in the pits of a race track, parts need to be changed and fixed quickly on the battlefield. With that racing mentality, the Phantom Badger was designed with every part on it to be repairable or replaceable within two hours. This vehicle is an excellent tool in readiness, making it possible for Marines to continue their missions as quickly and efficiently as possible.

• Date Taken: 09.26.2014
• Date Posted: 09.29.2014 16:45
• Story ID: 143663
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, NC, US
• Hometown: OLATHE, KS, US