The Iltis military vehicle involved in the deadly explosion in Afghanistan was never designed to handle fighting. And many soldiers have called for its replacement for years.

The Iltis is an open, lightly armoured vehicle, described by the Canadian Forces as a "battlefield taxi," used for ferrying around personnel, or for light reconnaissance missions. In Kabul, their primary use is for patrols in areas too built-up or narrow for the Canadian Forces' massive armoured carriers, the LAV III.

Maj.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, ISAF's deputy commander and the top Canadian soldier in Afghanistan says there's a need for both light and heavy armoured vehicles for Operation Athena forces in Afghanistan.

"To be effective, as we've learnt in so many other missions in the history of the Canadian Forces, you have to get out and interact with the people," he told reporters after the accident.

"As a result, we have soldiers out in the Iltis now driving down these very narrow streets, in the dark with night vision equipment."

Leslie told reporters that most of the troops in the International Security Protection Force charged with security in Kabul use jeep-like vehicles.

"The Iltises have a certain degree of commonality with most other vehicles in this theatre of operation. The British use a Land Rover. The Turks use Land Rover-based vehicles. There are 31 different nations here ... there's a large number of sport utility vehicles in action," he said.

Some soldiers love the Canadian-made Iltis, saying the four-cylinder jeep is quick and easy to manouvre. But many others hate the 19-year-old vehicles, complaining they're too small, and don't have significant armament. Others have said they have found themselves vulnerable while riding in them in heavily populated markets and traffic jams.

The aging vehicles have also been breaking down in the heat and altitude of Afghanistan. The fine, powdery dust on the roads has been particularly hard on the jeep, causing air filters to clog.

And the Iltis is the only vehicle in the Canadian fleet that is powered by gasoline -- not diesel -- making it sometimes difficult to find fuel, since most of the vehicles of Canada's allies use diesel.

Defence planners have bought a fleet of civilian SUVs for about $3-million and shipped them to Kabul to handle routine transport duties. However, the Nissan Terranos cannot be used on patrols or in any situation that might involve combat.

A sturdier vehicle is slated to replace the Iltis in Kabul, but it won't be available until at least the second rotation of Canadian troops arrives in early 2004.

Leslie is not sure that a heavier, more modern vehicle could have saved the Canadians killed and injured in Thursday's incident.

"This was a very large explosion and it doesn't matter if it was a Mercedes jeep or an Iltis jeep. Unfortunately, in my professional opinion, I would still be reporting the tragedy that I am reporting to you now," he told reporters.

"If the soldiers had been in (an armoured vehicle) would they have had a greater chance of survivability? The answer is yes. If it was an anti-tank mine, would they have been assured of living through the experience? No."

When asked how much protection the Iltis provided when travelling through a mined area Leslie replied: "Quite frankly, the answer is almost none."

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Ray Henault told an Ottawa press conference that although the Iltises offer little combat protection, it was appropriate to use them on Thursday's mission.

"In this case, the decision to go out with the jeep was one that was sound in my view. And it had been used previously in that same location. It was -- if you can ever call it a threat low in Afghanistan -- a low-threat area."

The Canadian Forces bought 2,500 of the four-wheel-drive Iltises from Bombardier in 1984. The Army admits the Iltis "is ending its serviceable life." For that reason, it is slated to be replaced under the military's Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled program.

The LUVW project plans to replace the Iltis fleet with the heavier, roofed, four-door Mercedes Benz G Wagon for field force units. The GM Silverado Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle will replace the Iltis for the Reserves.

But again, those vehicles will not be ready until sometime in 2004 -- too late for the first rotation of troops in Kabul.

Gen. Henault notes that while the Iltises are old, they are certainly not obsolete.

"I would add that there are other contingents in the region, there are 31 nations involved in the international security assistance force, all of which have vehicles of this type and nature," he said.