Europe on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected bandwagon?

With hostile forces acquiring deadlier explosive capabilities, countries involved in military or peacekeeping operations -- or a combination of both -- are looking for vehicles that will better protect their troops without restricting mobility. A number of vehicles are emerging to meet these needs.

Germany's GFF program is probably the best example of this effort in Europe. GFF is an acronym for armored command and multipurpose vehicle. The German military plans to acquire thousands of the vehicles over the next 10 years in a program valued at 3.5 billion euros ($4.7 billion).

(Aviation Week)

Peacekeeping efforts, eh? I suppose any effort by Western Europe to carry its own military weight ought to be appreciated.

I can't say these vehicles impress me at first glance. The Mungo has the driver situated more-or-less over the front wheels. EU Referendum (with its military talk now apparently rolled over to "Defence of the Realm") has belabored that weakness repeatedly, noting that it places the driver in a vulnerable position when the front tires set off a mine under the wheel well.

The RFF series by Rheinmetall has the driver well back from the wheel well except perhaps in the case of the Yak.

The Wiesel doesn't look safe from run-of-the-mill IED or EFP attacks to my non-expert eye, but then again neither did this Israeli vehicle that I noted a few days ago.

Of greater concern is the lack of any claims by the manufacturer regarding its ability to withstand such attacks.

Time will tell, especially if the vehicles are tested as with the U.S. MRAP I and II programs.