After decades of relying on jeeps, the Army began looking for an upgrade. Its new High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, pronounced “hum-vee” (HMMWV), entered the spotlight during the invasion of Panama to overthrow dictator Manuel Noriega and the Gulf War in 1991.
AM General, Chrysler Defense, and Teledyne Continental each designed prototypes, which were tested extensively in desert and Arctic conditions. The winner was AM General’s design – the Humvee we know and love today. Click the Humvee For Sale to learn more.
The Humvee was designed by the US Army in the late 1970s, as a jack-of-all-trades light tactical vehicle that could take over the roles of several existing trucks. The Army wanted one truck that was capable of navigating the rough terrain of Central America, and could also serve as a mobile command post in warzones. AM General’s HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) fit the bill.
The AM General Humvee was built on a common chassis and was able to be configured into multiple variants, including cargo carriers, troop transports, armament carriers, ambulances, and shelter carriers. It could also be fitted with various accessories and systems to perform specific tasks. The military loved the HMMWV, and it was deployed across the globe.
By the time the Gulf War began in 1991, the HMMWV was a fixture on the battlefield. The workhorse had earned a lot of positive press as it whisked soldiers and Marines across deserts and through dangerous sandstorms. Its popularity soared during the war, which was broadcast nearly nonstop on American TV.
But the positive headlines soon gave way to a new reality. Soldiers started complaining about the Humvee’s lack of protection from roadside improvised explosive devices. It was a critical problem, and the Pentagon quickly up-armored some models of the Humvee. However, the vehicle’s original unarmored design meant it was still vulnerable to other threats and to the ferocity of the Iraqi insurgency.
In the end, the Humvee was a reliable and versatile workhorse that served its purpose well. Despite its limitations, it saved countless lives over the years. And while it may have lost some of its luster after the conflict in Iraq, the military continues to use it.
As of 2018, the Humvee was being replaced in frontline military service by the JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle). The JLTV is a bigger, more capable replacement that has better armor; a mine-resistant hull; and a powerful 400-horsepower turbo diesel engine. It’s not surprising that the U.S. Army and Marine Corps are replacing the Humvee with this new, more-capable truck.
The Humvee’s Mission
The Humvee, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) as it’s officially known, was developed in the 1970s to replace the military’s fleet of aging Jeeps and other light vehicles. The goal was to create a vehicle that could move troops and supplies quickly in a wide range of environments, from deserts to forests to urban areas.
To meet the military’s requirements, AM General developed a vehicle with independent front and rear suspension, portal axles that allowed for gear reduction, and improved ground clearance. It also incorporated an aluminum body to keep weight down and to reduce the risk of corrosion, as well as advanced shock absorbers that allowed for more control over off-road conditions. It was also engineered with advanced brakes, including disc brakes that were mounted inboard of the differentials.
The result was a rugged, versatile vehicle that could easily perform the tasks that soldiers and support personnel needed to complete their missions. It would carry cargo and equipment, operate as a field ambulance, patrol on roads or in cities, provide security, and even act as a command center.
But the vehicle was not without its problems. In the beginning, it was difficult to maintain, and its armor was often damaged by enemy fire. The military responded to these issues by bolting steel plates to the Humvees, but this wasn’t a long-term solution. The added weight slowed the vehicle down and made it prone to rollover accidents. It also put unnecessary strain on the engine, drivetrain and chassis.
By the early 2000s, the Humvee had firmly established itself as an integral part of the military’s arsenal. It was even adapted for civilian use, becoming the genesis of the popular Hummer brand of vehicles.
In recent years, the military has begun replacing some Humvees with newer Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, or JLTVs. But the Humvee will continue to play a vital role in the military’s operations for decades to come.
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The Humvee’s Challenge
The military’s HMMWV, also known as the Humvee (or the unpronounceable HMMWV), is arguably the world’s most versatile light vehicle. It can be configured as a cargo carrier, troop transporter, armored personnel carrier, communication center, TOW missile launcher, ambulance or anything else the situation calls for.
The Army’s request for information for its competitive HMMWV recapitalization program has given manufacturers like BAE Systems, Oshkosh and AM General a chance to design kits that upgrade the old Humvees into new trucks that can handle just about any situation. The winner of the competition will be awarded a contract to supply up to 60,000 of the vehicles over the next decade.
These new Humvees will be equipped with advanced technologies and will have a lower cost than current models. They’ll also be able to carry more weapons and can travel at higher speeds.
One of the biggest challenges that will face these new Humvees is navigating paved roads. The military’s current Humvees are a bit clunky and slow, especially when they’re carrying loads of extra gear for operations in urban areas.
Fortunately, these Humvees will be able to take advantage of some technological advancements, including self-driving capability and a more powerful engine. These new trucks will be able to accelerate faster and drive on paved roads, making them more useful in the modern world.
Another way that the Humvee is challenging itself is by competing in off-road racing events. This includes the prestigious Banks Power Sidewinder Humvee Challenge, where a stock HMMWV is pitted against a modified version of the truck that has been cranked up with a high-performance engine and a lot more horsepower.
While the new HMMWV’s will be faster and more agile than the older ones, the military’s love affair with the Humvee isn’t over yet. The Humvee is still the go-to vehicle for any task that requires an off-road vehicle. This will be true even after the JLTV arrives on the battlefield, and it will likely be a long time before any vehicle replaces the iconic AM General Humvee. Until then, we’ll continue to see these bad boys dominating the desert and taking on every obstacle in their path.
The Humvee’s Future
The Humvee has survived a lot of challenges, but its greatest threat may be posed by a paved city street. During the Gulf War and the Iraq War, the vehicle excelled at whisking troops across desert terrain. However, the threats of roadside improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades soon became so formidable that up-armoring was required in order to protect soldiers from exploding shrapnel and blasts. Unfortunately, adding armor to a Humvee severely degraded its mobility and payload capacity.
But if a new model could be developed that would provide the same level of protection without hurting its maneuverability, then there might be hope for the Humvee. That’s the goal of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Fielding this new combat vehicle began in 2021 and it’s hoped that it can replace the majority of the Marine Corps’ 17,000 Humvees.
Although the JLTV is more expensive than the Humvee, it’s also faster and has a V-shaped hull to better deflect blasts from below. It is a vehicle designed for today’s battlefields.
Despite these advances, it will be some time before the JLTV and its predecessors are fully replaced in the Marine Corps. The Corps has a lot of Humvees and it will be hard to justify replacing them with vehicles that are twice as expensive and nearly impossible to get in and out of.
A lot of the decision-making for the Corps’ vehicle fleet will hinge on Congress and how much money it decides to give to the military. In a recent letter to lawmakers, the Marine Corps warned that if budget cuts and temporary funding measures cause it to purchase fewer vehicles, the service’s combat readiness will suffer.
The Humvee and its cousins will continue to serve the Marines for many years to come, just like the A-10, another old-timer that refuses to retire. Its macho image and iconic soundtrack are too good to let it die quietly. That’s a good thing, too. It’s a testament to the American ingenuity and grit that we have a fighting force with vehicles that are still as relevant in 2025 as they were in 1991.