A Wausau company says they're right on track with new technology that could save lives in combat.
"You could put a lot of armament on a Bradley Fighting Vehicles of an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle) but if the tires get shot out, you're out of luck. So that's where we come into play," says Mike Veihl, General Manager of Resilient Technologies LLC.
Veihl claims the company paving the way for an airless tire to withstand the harsh punishment of combat. He says although they've been working on the concept for five years, great strides have been made recently.
A couple of years ago Resilient partnered with UW-Madison's Polymer Engineering Center and was awarded an $18 million, four year contract to spearhead the new technology. Recently the university announced positive test runs, both on and off road, with a Humvee mounted with the non-pneumatic tires. Veihl says the project's success is rewarding in more ways that one.
"Not being able to go over there and support our troops physically. This gives us an opportunity to contribute to democracy right in our back door steps."