Sports Utility Vehicles and Pick-Up Trucks are getting the attention of the U.S. Army this year. With the photo above showing a Ford Ranger in use by the Afghan National Police (ANP) as an example,  in other countries these have become staples for militaries and LEOs (and terrorists and rebels as well), not much attention has been given to these vehicles which are much on the roads of the U.S.A., as the military usually orders vehicles specifically designed for military use.

But now, the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) want to try these Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) vehicles for their use and they have awarded Battelle, a Columbus, Ohio-based defense contractor to do turn Toyota Land Cruisers, Toyota Hiluxes, and Ford Rangers fit for use by special operations units.

Armed Toyota Hilux (Photo Source Uknown)

In a report  by Militaryaerospace.com, Battelle will install “military-grade vetronics, communications, night vision, ballistic protection, mobility, and tires designed to survive enemy small-arms fire” in this 5-year plan and a potential US$170 million contract. With all of these upgrades, these can do more than the technicals though there is no mention of what armaments these vehicles will carry into their missions.

These modified vehicles will go through a design review process and after approval of the upgrades that meet their requirements and will be integrated into the vehicle lot. They are not exactly the big lumbering IED-resistant MRAPs that we see nowadays, but these are vehicles fast and nimble enough to be used in areas where they will look more inconspicuous as compared to vehicles that are obviously made for the military.

Battelle’s contract may reach a total of 556 vehicles with 396 armored and 160 unarmored though the USSOCOM may order fewer than projected. These will be mainly the Toyota Model 76 and 79 Land Cruisers, which are part of the 70 series that started in the 1980s and Toyota is re-releasing with a newer V6 engine and more improvements such as a more rigid frame.

The Toyota 70s series are no strangers to the U.S. military as they were used by the U.S Marines since the first Gulf War. These boxy vehicles are, even the old ones, are still very much in use in many countries around the world, being workhorses in the tropics and in the desert.

As for the Toyota Hilux, here is a 3-part video from BBC’s Top Gear to see for yourself how they are built to last:

So if thinking of building a fast vehicle to use for airsoft games, you might want to look into any second hand Hilux, Land Cruiser, or a Ranger and given them a good a paint job such as a matte green or desert colors. You’ll be in good company choosing any of these vehicles.