(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - April 7, 2009: U.S. armored-vehicle builder Force Protection has set up its first overseas joint venture, a 50-50 partnership with NP Aerospace that will support the growing Cougar-based fleet in operation with or ordered by the British military.
The first task of the new company, known as Integrated Survivability Technologies (IST), will be to supply to the MoD 97 of Force Protection's new heavy tactical support vehicles, to be called the Wolfhound in British service. 
The Cougar is a family of armored vehicles produced by Force Protection Inc, which manufactures ballistic and mine-protected vehicles. The automotives are integrated by Spartan Motors. These specialty vehicles are protected against small arms, land mines and IEDs using a combination of design features and materials to protect both the crew and engine compartment against a wide range of attacks. A Monocoque type, V-shaped hull that extends to the engine bay and serves to direct the blast away from under the vehicle. The dual air-conditioners help keep heavily dressed troops from overheating in the 100+ degree F temperatures of Iraq.
4000 of these vehicles will have been fielded under the US military's MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) and other vehicle programs. US Defense secretary Robert Gates demanded that the vehicles be ordered in larger numbers after the Marines reported in 2004 that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougars. Since then, Cougars have been hit by IEDs many times in Iraq with few fatalities. Britain chose the Cougar over the RG-33 for their "Mastiff" APV.
The Pentagon has future plans to add the Crows II remote weapon station, Raytheon Quick Kill active anti-RPG system, and the Frag Kit 6 anti-EFP armor.
The armored truck is being purchased along with vehicles from Navistar Defense and local company Supacat to meet a 350 million pound ($522 million) upgrade of capabilities to support British troops fighting in Afghanistan.
The new joint venture will subcontract Force Protection to supply the basic vehicles. NP Aerospace is undertaking the modifications required by the British.
The order is to be delivered by the end of the year as part of an urgent operational requirement purchase.
IST will assume design authority for the Cougar-based vehicles and will be the focal point for new orders and support with spares, upgrades and design modifications, according to the company's managing director, Mike Linton.
Nearly 554 Cougar-based vehicles have been ordered or are in service with the British armed forces. The six-wheel-drive Cougar is known as the Mastiff and the four-wheel-drive version as the Ridgback in British service.
Under previous arrangements, the MoD ordered the vehicles from Force Protection, then handed them as government-furnished equipment to NP Aerospace, which did the modifications that turned them into Mastiffs and Ridgbacks.
Linton said the new relationship will result in a more "elegant and efficient solution."
The MoD recently ordered 14 Force Protection Buffalo route-clearance vehicles to strengthen its anti-roadside-bomb capabilities. The support of those vehicles also will come under IST's umbrella, Linton said.
The joint venture's horizons go beyond Britain, he said. "The aspiration is to start looking for business in Europe once the joint venture gets up and running. There is real opportunity there. It may be better for Cougar to be supported from the U.K. than the U.S.," he said.
France and Italy are both Force Protection customers, and Poland has 40 Cougars on loan from the U.S.
In a statement released to the stock exchange here, Morgan Crucible, the company that owns NP Aerospace, said it expected to generate more than 30 million pounds' revenue as its share of the 84 million pound Wolfhound deal secured with the MoD.
Late last year, the MoD announced the Wolfhound would be part of a purchase of more than 400 new armored support trucks.
Navistar Defense is supplying about 260 MXTs for a medium-weight vehicle called the Husky by the British. Local company Supacat will supply a variant of its Jackal vehicle known as the Coyote for the light support vehicle requirement.
Last week, the MoD announced British-based firm Dytecna would be undertaking the modification of the Navistar vehicle.
The Cougar is a family of armored vehicles produced by Force Protection Inc, which manufactures ballistic and mine-protected vehicles. The automotives are integrated by Spartan Motors. These specialty vehicles are protected against small arms, land mines and IEDs using a combination of design features and materials to protect both the crew and engine compartment against a wide range of attacks. A Monocoque type, V-shaped hull that extends to the engine bay and serves to direct the blast away from under the vehicle. The dual air-conditioners help keep heavily dressed troops from overheating in the 100+ degree F temperatures of Iraq.
4000 of these vehicles will have been fielded under the US military's MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) and other vehicle programs. US Defense secretary Robert Gates demanded that the vehicles be ordered in larger numbers after the Marines reported in 2004 that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougars. Since then, Cougars have been hit by IEDs many times in Iraq with few fatalities. Britain chose the Cougar over the RG-33 for their "Mastiff" APV.
The Pentagon has future plans to add the Crows II remote weapon station, Raytheon Quick Kill active anti-RPG system, and the Frag Kit 6 anti-EFP armor.
The armored truck is being purchased along with vehicles from Navistar Defense and local company Supacat to meet a 350 million pound ($522 million) upgrade of capabilities to support British troops fighting in Afghanistan.
The new joint venture will subcontract Force Protection to supply the basic vehicles. NP Aerospace is undertaking the modifications required by the British.
The order is to be delivered by the end of the year as part of an urgent operational requirement purchase.
IST will assume design authority for the Cougar-based vehicles and will be the focal point for new orders and support with spares, upgrades and design modifications, according to the company's managing director, Mike Linton.
Nearly 554 Cougar-based vehicles have been ordered or are in service with the British armed forces. The six-wheel-drive Cougar is known as the Mastiff and the four-wheel-drive version as the Ridgback in British service.
Under previous arrangements, the MoD ordered the vehicles from Force Protection, then handed them as government-furnished equipment to NP Aerospace, which did the modifications that turned them into Mastiffs and Ridgbacks.
Linton said the new relationship will result in a more "elegant and efficient solution."
The MoD recently ordered 14 Force Protection Buffalo route-clearance vehicles to strengthen its anti-roadside-bomb capabilities. The support of those vehicles also will come under IST's umbrella, Linton said.
The joint venture's horizons go beyond Britain, he said. "The aspiration is to start looking for business in Europe once the joint venture gets up and running. There is real opportunity there. It may be better for Cougar to be supported from the U.K. than the U.S.," he said.
France and Italy are both Force Protection customers, and Poland has 40 Cougars on loan from the U.S.
In a statement released to the stock exchange here, Morgan Crucible, the company that owns NP Aerospace, said it expected to generate more than 30 million pounds' revenue as its share of the 84 million pound Wolfhound deal secured with the MoD.
Late last year, the MoD announced the Wolfhound would be part of a purchase of more than 400 new armored support trucks.
Navistar Defense is supplying about 260 MXTs for a medium-weight vehicle called the Husky by the British. Local company Supacat will supply a variant of its Jackal vehicle known as the Coyote for the light support vehicle requirement.
Last week, the MoD announced British-based firm Dytecna would be undertaking the modification of the Navistar vehicle.
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