Combat vehicle

A ground combat vehicle, also known as a land assault vehicle or simply a combat vehicle or an assault vehicle, is a land-based military vehicle intended to be used for combat operations. They differ from non-combat military vehicles such as trucks in that they are designed for use in active combat zones, to be used in mechanized warfare and mobile infantry roles.

The classification of "combat vehicle" is a very broad category, and may include armored cars, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, infantry mobility vehicles, MRAPs, and tanks. Improvised fighting vehicles such as technicals can also count as combat vehicles. Most modern combat vehicles have vehicle armor, offensive or defensive weaponry, and sufficient space to carry passengers, equipment, or materiel; if the first two both apply, the vehicle may be considered an armored fighting vehicle.

For much of history, most soldiers not fighting on foot (e.g. cavalry) used military animals such as horses or elephants, as land vehicles for the most part did not exist.

One of the earliest forms of "combat vehicles" was the chariot. In ancient warfare, chariots were used as "battle taxis" and mobile archery platforms during the Bronze and Iron ages. However, weaponry was not installed on the vehicle, relying on the soldier's carried weapon for armament, and armor was effectively limited to a shield and the thin structure of the chariot, if those were even available or sufficient.

With the invention of the automobile, combat vehicles took varying forms, ranging from the lightly armored passenger cars of the World War I era to the widely fielded Willys MB of World War II, along with a wide variety of other combat vehicles such as half-tracks and multiple classifications of tanks. Development of combat vehicles continued into the Cold War as military tactics and technology evolved, diversifying the role of vehicles in war and making them an essential aspect of modern warfare.

The automation of human tasks endeavors to reduce the required crew size with improvements in robotics. Enhancements to automation can help achieve operational effectiveness with a smaller, more economical, combat vehicle force. The automation of combat vehicles has proved to be difficult due to the time latency between the operator controlling the vehicle and the signal being received. Unlike air forces, ground forces must navigate the terrain and plan around obstacles. The rapid tactical implications of operating a weaponized vehicle in a combat environment are great.

Use of titanium armor on combat vehicles is increasing. The use of titanium can lighten the vehicle's weight.

Appliqué armor can be quickly applied to vehicles and has been utilized on a number of combat vehicles, such as the M8 armored gun system.