KABUL, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan received the first of several new combat vehicles to intensify the defense against roadside bombs, the military said in a statement Wednesday.

    The forces Tuesday received three new armored security vehicles, known as ASV-150s, and will receive several more later this week, it said.

    Militants in this insurgent country frequently plant roadside bombs to attack coalition and NATO troops in vehicles, causing casualties and vehicle damages.

    Suicide car bomb attacks also impose threat to the troops, making them to drive in a reckless way, which causes traffic accidents from time to time. The driving manner is widely complained by Afghans.

    The platform of the ASV-150 sits much higher than the military's staple troop carrier, the HUMMV, and all four sides of the new vehicle are angled to better deflect explosions from the ground, the statement said.

    The ASV-150, which seats a crew of four, weights about 30,000 pounds.

    Its basic armaments include mounts for the MK 19 automatic grenade launcher and a modified version of the M2 50 caliber machine gun.

    "If everything goes well, we'll receive the remainder of the new ASV-150s later this year," said Lt. Col. Jeff Perkins, a coalition officer. Enditem