SOCNORTH's requirements also indicate that the vehicles will be able to serve as a hub for a semi-fixed command center, as well. The external power panel,
carried over from the WHCA Roadrunner configuration, had to be able to support a dismounted Panther satellite communications terminal, and its associated
antenna, a system that is also known with the U.S. special operations community as the Special Operations Forces Deployable Node Light (SDN-L) V3B.

The contracting documents also call for retaining a number of antenna bases, cabling, and power connections within the vehicle in order to provide capacity
for adding new and additional systems down the line. This could include higher capacity on-the-move satellite communications and data-sharing capabilities
using improved hardened and secure networks and terminals, such as the systems the Army has developed part of successive iterations of its Warfighter
Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T).

Above: A close-up, at left, along with a wider shot of the external power panel on one of the CRT vehicles.

There is otherwise no mention of any modifications to the vehicles on the automotive side, which isn't necessarily surprising. The Roadrunners were already specially configured to meet the power generation needs and other performance requirements that the WHCA had previously laid out.

It's not clear exactly how SOCNORTH's CRT expects to use the vehicles now. A primer on SOCNORTH, as a whole, that Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Collins, the Plans Division Chief for the command's Strategy, Plans, and Policy directorate, or J5, wrote for Small Wars Journal last year described the CRT's mission as such:

"The SOCNORTH SOCFWD-Crisis Response is a command element built from the SOCNORTH staff that is capable of deploying within four hours to provide Command and Control (C2) of DoD assets and situational awareness to CDR NORTHCOM in times of crisis. Primarily in support of the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation], the SOCNORTH crisis response team postures itself to rapidly assess the situation, coordinate with lead federal agencies when needed and send valuable updates through the DoD chain of command to assume a proactive response for supporting the interagency. In addition to the domestic portion, SOCNORTH is developing the ability to perform the same function in the foreign areas of the AOR. This will include increased coordination with the Department of State (DoS) and diplomatic facilities to ensure the proper reception, staging and onward integration (RSOI) of DoD support and resources in the event of a crisis."

In addition, acquiring the six Roadrunners helped the CRT provide "enhanced interoperability and effectiveness in communications to defend the homeland," according to the public LinkedIn page for Wesley Drake. That page says he was the Communications Senior Enlisted Advisor within SOCNORTH's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Cyber Directorate, or J6. 

This would strongly imply that the SUVs will continue to provide important command and control functions for CRT members, including being able to link together with other U.S. government agencies during domestic or foreign missions. This kind of interoperability would be invaluable when responding to a large domestic terrorist attack or other major crises, especially ones that trigger so-called "continuity of government" planning and involve locating and then moving large numbers of senior U.S. officials to safe, hardened locations. During these kinds of scenarios, the CRT could easily find itself deeply embedded within a broader interagency task force with elements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of Justice.

Above: A member of an FBI SWAT Team assigned to the Tampa Field Office, at right, and another special operator during a multi-national special operations forces demonstration on the sidelines of the annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida in 2018.

Still, SOCNORTH's planned configuration for the vehicles does sound less robust than the one found on the WCHA's Roadunners At the same time, the CRT's command and control requirements are also unlikely to be as demanding as those for personnel charged with following around the President of the United States and ensuring that America's chief executive remains in direct contact with the rest of the U.S. government, including the National Command Authority in case of the need to order a nuclear strike, at all times.

Using the modified Chevrolet Suburbans also generally makes sense for the CRT, which expects to find itself often operating with civilian agencies, such as the FBI, DHS, or the Department of State, which also typically use similar civilian-style Chevrolet Suburbans. SOCNORTH's personnel are less likely to stand out with these vehicles and they would be far less likely to add  additional logistical requirements for mission planning.

If nothing else, SOCNORTH has made what appears to be a very sensible decision to take Roadrunners the WHCA was likely working to get rid of anyways and use them to bolster the CRT's vehicle fleets without having to go through the often lengthy and costly process of acquiring all-new vehicles and having them modified to meet various U.S. military and other government standards. When fully modified, the SUVs look set to provide an important set of capabilities as the CRT continues to expand and evolve to take on greater responsibilities both within the United States and elsewhere in North America.