Inside the Texas Facility That Rebuilds the U.S. Military’s Humvees

Red River Handles Humvee Maintenance

Humvees, officially known as HMMWVs (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles), are rugged military machines built to handle a wide range of combat roles. Although these are being slowly phased out for newer, more advanced JLTVs (Joint Light Tactical Vehicles), Humvees still play an integral part in major frontline operations. Because of that, they require regular maintenance and upkeep, which, given the specialised nature and complexity, is handled by a dedicated facility down in Hooks, Texas.

Red River Army Depot, or RRAD for short, is the U.S. Army’s go-to place for Humvee repairs and overhauls. The Tactical Wheeled Vehicle CITE (Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence), as it is officially called, not only supports the Army but also handles the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy’s repair/rebuild requirements.

Not a Friday Afternoon Job

As you’d imagine, things within the facility are pretty high-tech. As seen in FRAME’s latest YouTube upload, industrial-scale laser cutters and punching machines are employed to carry out advanced sheet metal fabrications. Not only that, but you’ll also see workers using 3D scanners to ensure everything fits as per the required tolerances.

At the start of the video is what looks like a veteran Humvee arriving at the site for some TLC. Workers start disassembling the various internal and external parts, including the rusty chassis and sub-frame components. In a separate shot, the factory personnel can be seen installing a new frame and other structural parts onto these stripped-down vehicles, making them one step closer to being combat-ready.

Modifications also include armor upgrades, as well as weapon system overhauls. Once the rebuild is complete, each armored HMMWV costs around $100,000, depending on the extent of the work. An up-armored Humvee is identified by its desert paint and is mostly used in combat support roles today. JLTVs, made by Oshkosh Defense, are more reliable and superior in almost every aspect.

In addition to Humvees, RRAD maintains and modifies several special-purpose vehicles ranging from High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) to Rough Terrain Container Handlers (RTCH) and Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks (HEMTT).