| Force
Protection, Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems are forming
a joint venture to offer the Cougar
4x4 and 6x6 armored vehicles for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected
(MRAP) vehicle program, a
U.S. joint services program being managed by the U.S. Marine
Corps. The joint venture was formed to offer Force Protection's
Cougar 4x4 and 6x6 armored vehicles as an MRAP solution. The
joint venture called Force Dynamics will include an experienced
team in program management, systems engineering, production
and service support from both Force Protection and General Dynamics.
The companies are already
cooperating in the fabrication of the armored capsule for
the Cougar.
The 1st Marine Expeditionary Force requested 1,169 MRAP vehicles.
The program calls for a commercially available off-road and
highway capable armor and mine protected vehicle, configured
for personnel, cargo and litter transportation. The vehicle
should have a payload capacity of 5000 lbs, and will be able
to carry 6 – 10 troops. The vehicle will be configured
to carry existing gunner protected turrets or remotely controlled
weapon stations, enabling the gunner to load, operate and engage
targets from fully protected positions. To improve recovery
after mine damage, the vehicle will be built of modular components
that could break away from the vehicle in the case of a blast.
Its energy absorbing seats should be capable of withstanding
the accelerative effects of mine blasts.
The armor protection of the vehicle include mine protection
and ballistic protection of the full, roof protection from overhead
airburst and side protection against fragmentation and blast.
The transparent armor windows will have protection level equal
to or greater than that of the ballistic armor on the vehicle,
and will have built-in gun-ports. RPG protection could also
be an option.
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