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Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has asked Congress for approval to transfer an additional $1.2 billion to the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program. If approved, the department will be able to increase its total MRAP order to 6415 vehicles. An estimated 3500 vehicles are expected to be delivered to Iraq by Dec. 31.

Test teams at the Aberdeen proving ground in Maryland have been working around the clock since January to evaluate prototype vehicles to ensure they provide needed protection and are able to stand up to combat conditions.
As they evaluate the vehicles, the Aberdeen test center staff is looking at ways to improve them, passing recommendations from military testers directly to the vendors.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have served in the combat theater get behind the wheel and subject the MRAPs to the same kinds of conditions they encountered overseas. However, troop testing is just one part of a three-part testing regime that is ensuring MRAPs being fielded meet critical standards. Exploitation testing ensures the vehicles have the ballistic protection required to stand up to improvised explosive devices and other ballistics. Whereas, automotive testing ensures they are reliable in conditions they're likely to encounter in Iraq.

Here are some recent awards for MRAPs:
On June 19, 2007 the Navy placed an order on behalf of the Marine Corps and the Army for 395 category 1, and 60 category 2 Force Protection Cougars at a cost of $221 million, and for 16 category 2 International MaxxPro XLs for the sum of $8 million.

On June 28, amended July 16, BAE received a $235.8 million order for 16 RG-33 category I patrol vehicles, 239 RG-33L category II vehicles, 170 RG-33 Cat I variants for the United States Special Operations Command, out of their total allotment of 333 vehicles, and 16 RG-33L category II ambulance variants that are the first vehicles in the competition specifically listed for the ambulance role.

On July 13, 2007, Stewart and Stevenson (Armor Holdings) received an order for 1154 category I and 16 category II MRAP vehicles from the Marine Corps Systems Command. The vehicles are to be delivered by February 2008 and the order is worth $518.5 million.