(WHTM) — The Pennsylvania Army National Guard is receiving the first of more than 600 new or upgraded armored vehicles.

The National Guard announced they are receiving 324 upgraded Stryker vehicles and 300 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to modernize their 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

The upgraded Strykers now feature a “double-V” hull, which is replacing the brigade’s legacy flat-bottom-hull Strykers, and the JLTVs are replacing the brigade’s soft-skin M1097 HMMWVs, colloquially known as "humvees."

Col. Christopher Costello, 56th SBCT Commander, said the transition from flat-bottom hull to double-V hull design was initiated in response to vulnerabilities against improvised explosive devices during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says the new hull will deflect explosive forces away from the vehicle, drastically reducing the risk of damage and injury to soldiers inside.

"Combat experience in Afghanistan showed that double-V hull Strykers significantly reduced casualties and injury severity compared to flat-bottom hull models," said Col. Costello. "Soldiers often walked away from IED attacks on double-V hull vehicles or returned to duty quickly, a stark improvement over flat-bottom hull performance where casualties were higher."

Costello added that the new JLTVs will provide several upgrades over the current humvees, as well.

“The JLTV combines improved protection, mobility, and payload capacity while addressing the limitations of the older Humvee in modern combat environments,” Costello said.

Col. Jeremy Coleman, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, says the first 25 Strykers will come to Fort Indiantown Gap, where they will be used for training, or G4. All of the JLTVs will come to Fort Indiantown Gap before going out to their units. It has not yet been determined if the remaining Strykers will also come to Fort Indiantown Gap first or if they will be sent directly to the units.

“This is a great opportunity for the state, 28th Infantry Division, and 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to modernize our legacy equipment,” Col. Coleman said.

The National Guard says this modernization program will help the brigade be better prepared for its combat role when called upon in the future, Costello added.

"There will certainly be challenges, but based on the performance of the Soldiers and units during their deployments, I am sure we will be successful,” Costello said. “The level of training required for the deployments also encourages me that despite the focus on fielding so much equipment, the Soldiers, if called upon, would be ready to support civil authorities and/or conduct their war time missions."