Cougar Armored Trucks to Stalk Mines on the Battlefield (updated)http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/cougar-armored-trucks-to-stalk-mines-on-the-battlefield-updated-0532/
Cougar 6×6, IEDed
- the crew lived.
The Cougar family of medium-sized blast-protected vehicles is produced in both 4-wheel (formerly Cougar H) and 6-wheel (formerly Cougar HE) layouts. Eventually, the wisdom of using survivable vehicles in a theater where land mines were the #1 threat became clearer, and these vehicles have gradually shifted from dedicated engineer and Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) roles to patrol and route-proving/ convoy lead functions as well. The 4×4 vehicles usually carry 4 troops plus the front seats, while the 6×6 variants can carry up to 8+2. They may also carry an assortment of related equipment, such as bomb disposal robots.
These are not small vehicles. The M1114 up-armored Hummers have an empty “curb weight” of around 9,000 pounds, and a top weight of about 12,000 pounds. The smaller Cougar 4×4’s curb weight is 31,000 pounds (max. 38,000), while the 6×6’s curb weight is 38,000 pounds (max. 52,000). As the amusing web page by manufacturer Force Protection puts it: “Drop your purse, it’s not a Hummer.”
Cougar orders predate the USA’s MRAP program to rush mine-resistant vehicles to the front lines; indeed, the performance Force Protection’s vehicles in theater was probably the #1 trigger for the MRAP Program’s existence. This DID FOCUS Article describes Force Protection’s vehicles, and its efforts to ramp up its production; it also covers key events and procurements related to Force Protection’s Cougar (MRAP CAT I & II) and Buffalo (MRAP CAT III) vehicles in the USA and around the world (Britain, Canada, Italy, Iraq, and Yemen to date). The latest news includes a pair of firm contracts from Britain and Italy, the retirement of the company’s CEO, and December MRAP production figures…
italya ve ingiltere mrap siparişi verdi
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/cgi-bin/client/modele.pl?session=dae.22011899.1153896400.RMcPz8Oa9dUAADG@Lz8&modele=jdc_34Pentagon Contract Announcement
(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Feb. 21, 2008)
-- Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded a not to exceed $115,167,467 contract modification under previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (M67854-06-C-5162) to acquire 174 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and associated test sets, spares and support services.
This action consummates a requirement under a Foreign Military Sales order with the United Kingdom, Ministry of Defense.
Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and work is expected to be completed Jul. 2009.
Funds for this action are provided by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense and do not expire.
The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
-- Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded a not to exceed $8,353,715 modification under previously awarded contract (M67854-07-C-5039) to acquire 10 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and associated support services and parts for the Italian Ministry of Defense under the Foreign Military Sales Program.
Work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and work is expected to be completed Jun. 2009.
Funds for this action are provided by the Italian Ministry of Defense and do not expire.
The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.
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