Force Protection receives contract for additional armored vehicles

The U.S. Army today awarded Force Protection Inc. a contract with the U.S. Army for 19 Buffalo mine clearance vehicles, plus training and field support, the company announced.

The contract also includes an option for an additional 27 Buffalos that may be procured during 2006. The completion of financial details and the first deliveries are expected within the next 30 days.

“While the Buffalo has been used in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom since 2003, this marks a decided emphasis on the incorporation of blast and mine protection into vehicles that will counter the long-term threat posed by IEDs in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world,” Force Protection Industries Vice President Michael Aldrich said.

The contract is the first issued by the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Mich. Under the contract, Force Protection will manufacture the vehicles and provide management and logistics support.

“The Buffalo has been used effectively to detect and disarm thousands of suspected explosive devices over the past three years. The vehicle takes the punch so that our troops don’t have to. This order shows that the need for this type of mobile, proven counter-IED platform continues to increase,” Force Protection Chief Executive Officer Gordon McGilton said.

More than 64% of U.S. combat deaths in Iraq have been caused by IEDs, which are often hidden in seemingly harmless objects such as oil cans, tires or fake concrete blocks.

The design of the 23-ton Buffalo allows troops to examine suspicious objects from the safety of an armored hull, operating a remote-controlled hydraulic arm and camera to screen potential explosive threats. Troops can then set them safely aside or, if necessary, discharge them. Although Force Protection does not publicize the exact number or location of the Buffalos currently deployed, more than 50 of the vehicles have been delivered to the U.S. government since 2003.