Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa

Eight fully armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles are parked waiting to be loaded into a C-17 Globemaster III, Nov. 5, at an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia. The C-17 is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. It is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the Central Command Area of Responsibility. In response to the vulnerability of HMMWVs operating in Iraq, "Up-Armor" kits were designed and installed on M998 HMMWVs. These kits, of which there are several iterations, include armored doors with bullet-resistant glass, side and rear armor plates, and a ballistic windshield which offers greater protection from ballistic threats and simple IEDs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Boquette/Released)