Force Protection teams with General Dynamics for new $10B armored vehicle project

Force Protection, a builder of high-tech armored vehicles designed to protect its occupants from explosive devices, is joining forces with General Dynamics Land Systems to pursue a new vehicle the U.S. military wants.

The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, vehicle program is a Defense Department initiative seeking to replace Humvee vehicles. More than 20,000 of the MRAP vehicles could be purchased in a contract worth as much as $10 billion.

The MRAP program is being managed by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Force Protection and the General Dynamics group plan to offer Force Protection’s so-called Cougar vehicles as the MRAP. The Cougars are available in 4×4 and 6×6 configurations.

General Dynamics and Force Protection recently announced a partnership through which General Dynamics would provide fabrication of the armored capsules built into Cougar vehicles.

“This joint venture is an important strategic step for our company,” said Force Protection Chief Executive Officer Gordon McGilton in a statement. “Combining Force Protection’s life-saving blast protection technology with the size and capability of General Dynamics will ensure that the MRAP program will be a success and that the vehicles will be the strongest, most advanced blast- and ballistic-protected vehicles in the world.”

Force Protection, which recently raised nearly $153 million through a stock offering, has already sold Cougar joint explosive ordnance disposal rapid response vehicles to the Marines. The most recent contract called for $69 million to be spent on 100 of the Cougars. Its vehicles are built at a complex near Charleston, S.C.

To date, more than 300 Force Protection vehicles have been delivered to the U.S. military for use in Afghanistan and Iraq. They include Cougar and Buffalo vehicles. The United Kingdom also recently signed a contract for vehicles from Force Protection.

Among features in the Cougar are a V-shaped hull designed to deflect blast effects and 4-inch thick glass.

The Cougar can be configured to haul as many as 12 troops or four troops and a large explosive ordinance disposal robot. It can be used as a command and control vehicle, a prime mover for artillery pieces, vehicle recovery and as an ambulance, according to Force Protection.

“The joint venture will provide our Armed Forces the services of two best- in-class defense companies both dedicated to safeguarding the lives of our servicemen and women,” said Dave Heebner, president General Dynamics Land Systems. “Together we will leverage the complementary skills and resources inherent in our companies to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles.”