Infantry mobility vehicle
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An infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) is a wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo, Mungo ESK, Bushmaster IMV or Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV). This term also applies to the vehicles currently being fielded as part of the MRAP program.
IMVs were developed in response to the threats of modern warfare, with an emphasis on crew protection and mine-resistance. Similar vehicles existed long before the term IMV was coined, such as the French VAB, South African Buffel, or Soviet BTR-60. The term is coming more into use to differentiate armored wheeled APCs from tracked APCs or unarmored troop carriers. It could be considered a neologism for what might have been classified in the past as an armored scout car, such as the BRDM, but the IMV is distinguished by having a requirement to carry infantry that can dismount as well as its operational crew.
[edit] Design
IMV's generally feature a v-hull shaped underbelly with additional crew protection features such as four- point seat belts and seats suspended from the roof or sides of the vehicle. Most feature a remote weapon system in place of a crew-served weapon system.
