March1, 2007: Italian firm Iveco has a produced a new Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV), for the Italian army, and several foreign customers. The seven ton, 4x4 vehicle is another design influenced by the success of armored hummers being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Italian army has ordered 1,210 LMVs, and will receive 500 this year. A few have already been sent to Afghanistan. Belgium and Britain have each ordered 400, and Norway has bought 25.

Like the hummer, the LMV normally carries five people. The LMV can carry a remote control gun turret on the roof, and there will be variants in which the rear of the vehicle will be used for cargo or equipment. The LMV is similar in size to the hummer (15.8 feet long and 7.3 feet wide), but is actually a few percent larger, and weighs about a third more. Like the hummers built with armor (rather than having it added), the LMV provides excellent protection from bullets and roadside bombs. The V-shaped hull of the LMV improves protection from explosions beneath the vehicle. The LMV costs about the same as an armored hummer ($170,000 each).