31. Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
Entered Service: 2007
Manufacturer: Oshkosh Corporation
Cost: $1 million*
The Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) is a light tactical vehicle that can withstand pretty much anything. The MRAP Joint vehicle has many designers, including Oshkosh, which is designing an MRAP to be used by the Marine Corps and Army. The Oshkosh builders won the contract because of their stellar all-terrain MRAP design.
Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle @ mil_machine / Twitter.com
The MRAP doesn’t have a conventional design, but it is a heavy, large vehicle that has limited mobility as a result of its extra durability. It is estimated that 72% of the world’s bridges would be unable to hold the MRAP if it crossed.
32. AAV-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle (Amtrac)
Entered Service: 1972
Manufacturer: United Defense
Cost: $5.5 million*
Don’t get confused by “Amtrac,” as this amphibious assault vehicle has nothing to do with the train system. Amtrac is the nickname the Marines have given this vehicle, which has the official designation of AAVP-7A1. It is a fully-tracked vehicle that can travel on land or in the water.
AAV-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle (Amtrac) @ Alfonso Meo / Facebook.com
It is used by Sea Operators, and it has an operational range of 300 miles on land and 20MB in water. It also can survive in Sea State 5. The manufacturer is United Defense. United Defense hooked up the AAVP-7A1 with an M2HB .50 caliber machine gun.
33. USS Topeka
Entered Service: 1989
Manufacturer: General Dynamics Electric Boat
Cost: $145 million*
This Los-Angeles-class sub is the USS Topeka SSN-754. It is named after Kansas City and used by the Navy. It was built by General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division and manufactured right in America in Groton, CT in 1986. Construction took two years, finishing in early 1988.
USS Topeka @USPacificFleet / Twitter.com
An SG6 nuclear reactor propels the 362-foot-long ship. Its motto is “Defender of the Heartland.” It is the heavyweight version of the Cleveland-class USS Topeka, which was lightweight and used during WWII (1944 until 1949). The USS Topeka is the third of its namesake, according to the Navy.
34. M60 Patton
Entered Service: 1952
Manufacturer: General Dynamics
Cost: $1 million*
The second-generation main battle tank for the Marine Corps was released in March of 1959. The Marines deactivated their heavy tank battalion in 1963, all except for the second-gen M60 Patton. The M60 Patton, therefore, came in handy when the Cold War came around. It became the main battle tank of all US troops during the Cold War.
M60 Patton @HomelandMax / Twitter.com
The operational range of the M60 Patton is three-hundred miles. It requires a fuel capacity of 385 US gallons (so, it has a 1,457-liter tank). It was used by the Army until 2005, and it requires a crew of four to operate the tank.
35. M3A3 Bradley
Entered Service: 1981
Manufacturer: FMC Corporation, United Defense
Cost: $3.16 million*
The M3A3 Bradley’s entire mission is to provide protected transport of infantry squads to critical locations on the battlefield. This transporter is an armored reconnaissance unit that is made by BAE Systems. It is one of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The M3A3 is used by the most heavily-armed units in the US Army.
M3A3 Bradley @TacticalReport / Twitter.com
The M3A3 can travel on-land, of course, as well as through water. It gets a top road speed of 41MPH and a topwater speed of 4.5MPH. The engine is a Cummins VTA-903, and the armor on the Bradley is made of 5083 Steel and 7039 Aluminum.
36. MiG-21
Entered Service: 1955
Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG
Cost: $25.2 million*
The MiG-21, created during the Soviet Union by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau is an aviation record-holder. This fighter plane was not only historically used by the Soviet Air Force, it was also used by the Romanian, Croation, and Indian Air Forces. 11,496 were produced (10,645 of which were made in the USSR by UNAC).
MiG-21 @rowdy_rathore_ / Twitter.com
This set a record for the most-produced supersonic jet in the history of aviation. It also had the highest production of any post-Korean-War combat aircraft. The MiG-21 is still in service, and it has the third-longest production run for a combat aircraft (next to the E-15 Eagle and the Fighting Falcon F-16).
37. MiG-31 Foxhound
Entered Service: 1975
Manufacturer: Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG
Cost: $33.2 million*
Another Soviet-era plane was the MiG-31 Foxhound, which was designed by the Soviet Union in 1975 and introduced in 1981. This plane is still in service, used by the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Kazakhstan Air Force. 519 of these supersonic interceptor planes have been made thus far by UNAC.
MiG-31 Foxhound ©Arseniy Shemyakin Photo / Shutterstock
The MiG-31 Foxhound was designed to replace the Foxbat, and it shares the same design elements as its predecessor. The MiG-31 is one of the world’s fastest combat jets, which is likely why it was not retired after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russia announced that it will keep the MiG-31 in service at least until 2030.
38. Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
Entered Service: 1985
Manufacturer: Oshkosh Defense
Cost: $433,539*
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is manufactured by the Oshkosh Corporation. The JLTV was part of a US military program to replace the tried-and-true Humvee. The Humvee needed to be replaced, as the JLTV could carry a greater payload. The JLTV program was first approved in 2006.
JLTV: Joint Light Tactical Vehicle @MCIWPendletonCA / Twitter.com
Each unit costs $433,539. The armor on the JLTV has not yet been declassified. The engine is a Gale Banks 6.6L diesel engine that is based on the same model as the GM Duramax pickup truck. It gets a top speed of 70MPH, making it more agile than other vehicles on this list.
39. Stryker
Entered Service: 2002
Manufacturer: General Dynamics Land Systems
Cost: $5.11 million*
The IAC Stryker is one of the faster-moving vehicles on this list, getting a top speed of sixty MPH. The Stryker’s predecessor was actually a Canadian military vehicle, the Canadian LAV III. Each Stryker costs $5.11 million to make. The eight-wheeled vehicles have seen a whole fleet developed.
Stryker ©Karolis Kavolelis / Shutterstock
The Stryker has an all-wheel-drive option, though it mainly operates in a four-wheel drive. It is powered by a Caterpillar C7 engine, and it has 14.5mm resistant armor. It has an operational range of 310 miles. The fighting vehicle is produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, a Canadian company that makes it for the US Army.
40. C-17 Globemaster III
Entered Service: 1991
Manufacturer: Boeing
Cost: $328 million*
Another Boeing plane is the C-17 Globemaster III. The Globemaster III was designed by Boeing’s McDonnell Douglas subsidiary. This large, military transport aircraft had its first flight in 1991, and it was introduced to the USAF in 1995. The C-17 is commonly used for tactical airlift and strategical airlift missions.
C-17 Globemaster III @WQKE10 / Twitter.com
This Boeing Co plane transports troops and cargo around the world, and it also does airdrop and medical evacuation duties. The C-17 was made as the replacement for the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. The C-17 also was designed to free up the C-5 fleet, leaving it to deal with outsize cargo.
41. F-22 Raptor
Entered Service: 1997
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
Cost: $350 million*
This single-seat, all-weather, twin-engine stealth fighter was made for the USAF, and it was the result of the ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) program. The F-22 Raptor was initially made as an air superiority jet, but it also has signal intelligence, ground attack, and electronic warfare capabilities.
F-22 Raptor ©Emily Hilton / Foter.com
Lockheed Martin Corp was the primary contract, but Boeing Co. contributed the aft fuselage, avionics, training system, and wings. The F-22, according to USAF officials, is a “critical component” of the branch’s tactical power. 195 have been made, of which 187 are operational. The program shut down in 2011 because the F-35 was developed (among other reasons).
42. Su-34
Entered Service: 1990
Manufacturer: Aeroflot
Cost: $41.2 million*
The Sukhoi Su-34 is a twin-engine, all-weather, supersonic fighter jet. The bomber first flew in 1990, and it was built for the Soviet Union. It didn’t enter service until 2014, where it served with the Russian Air Force. The NATO reporting name for the Su-34 is “Fullback. Designed by AFLT, the Su-34 flies both solo and group missions.
Su-34 @militaryaviation / Facebook.com
It can fly in the daytime or nighttime, and it is used mainly in hostile environments, which it is well-built for, as it is equipped with counter-fire, aerial reconnaissance, and electronic warfare capacity. The Su-34 is expected to replace the S-24 and Tu-22M3.
43. M270 MLRS
Entered Service: 1983
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin
Cost: $4 million*
The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System has been in America since 1983. It was first delivered to the Army, and NATO took an interest in the M270 after seeing how well it fit in with American troops. Many NATO members have since adopted the MLRS. The maximum firing range for the M270 is 186 miles.
M270 MLRS @toadmanstanks / Twitter.com
The operational range of the vehicle itself is 300 miles. Its most effective firing range is right in the twenty-mile sweet spot. It can fire 12 rounds of rockets in 40 seconds and two rounds of missiles in ten seconds.
44. Buffalo Mine Protected Vehicle
Entered Service: 2003
Manufacturer: Force Protection, Inc.
Cost: $10 million*
The six-wheel Buffalo Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle is made by Force Protection. It is the largest vehicle that Force Protection has made, and with the Ocelot and Cougar following after it. The Buffalo is centerline-mine protected, as are all of its wheels. The Buffalo gets a ground clearance of fifteen inches.
Buffalo Mine Protected Vehicle @Albany_Herald / Twitter.com
Its fuel capacity is eighty-five gallons, and it is thirteen feet tall and twenty-seven feet long. The Buffalo is powered by a Mack ASET AI-400 engine. The Buffalo is also powered by Husky Mine-Detection systems that allow it to avoid IEDs or actual landmines.
45. Daimler M915A5 6×4 Military Tractor
Entered Service: 2010
Manufacturer: Daimler
Cost: $4 million*
The Daimler M915A5 6×4 Military Tractor is being developed for the Army by DTNA (Daimler Trucks of North America), which is a Daimler subsidiary. This work truck gets a line haul of 50,000 pounds. It was first designed in 2009. Daimler got the contract to produce 1,780 units of the vehicles.
Daimler M915A5 6×4 Military Tractor @freightliner / Twitter.com
The Military Tractor you see today is an upgrade from the M915A3 model. New improvements were made after the Army sent people to inspect the tractors, and the Army made recommendations for changes it wanted. This new tractor truck fits all of the Army’s specifications, including a US-made guarantee.