Force Protection Europe rolls new patrol vehicle targeted at Britain military program

---

The wholly owned subsidiary of Ladson-based Force Protection Industries Inc. is marketing the new Ocelot to Britain’s Light Protected Vehicle program, but CEO Michael Moody said the applications for lighter vehicles extend to the U.S. and other countries as well. The company unveiled the new vehicle at a defense industry exhibition in London.

 

Staff Report
Published Sept. 8, 2009

A division of Ladson-based Force Protection Industries Inc. rolled out a new class of light protected patrol vehicle at a London exhibition today.

Force Protection Europe Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Force Protection Industries, unveiled the Ocelot at the Defense Systems and Equipment International exhibition along with design partner Ricardo plc. The Ocelot was designed specifically to meet the requirements for the UK’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle program, the company said in a news release.

“By designing from a clean sheet we have adopted a novel design which is a complete departure from the standard practice of basing mine resistant vehicles on a standard chassis design,” said David Hind, managing director of Force Protection Europe. “We are confident that the design of Ocelot means it not only meets today’s blast resistance requirements but those expected in the future.”

Hind said the Ocelot exceeds the required mine protection level set for Britain’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle program, while still meeting targets for mobility, payload, size and vehicle weight.

Based on a modular design with a core automotive armored spine or “skateboard,” the vehicle has a composite interchangeable pod. The pods can include patrol and fire support or protected logistics vehicle, and can easily be changed in the field as the need requires.

“Force Protection and Ricardo have worked together to design a vehicle built specifically in response to the requirements of the UK LPPV program,” Force Protection CEO Michael Moody said. “However, we believe that there are opportunities for lighter, highly mobile vehicles that provide MRAP levels of protection both in the United States military as well as internationally.”