Force Protection Ocelot | |
---|---|
![]() Foxhound on display | |
Type | Infantry Mobility Vehicle |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Production history | |
Designer | Ricardo plc / Force Protection Europe |
Designed | 2009–2010 |
Manufacturer | Force Protection Europe (2009–2011) General Dynamics UK (2011–present) |
Unit cost | £923k [1] (~US$1.5m) |
Produced | 2011– (projected) |
Variants | Prototypes in differing configurations including LRPV and steel armour |
Specifications | |
Mass | Gross Vehicle Weight 7,500 kg (7.4 long tons) |
Length | 5.32 m (17 ft 5 in) |
Width | 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) |
Height | 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in) |
Main armament | 2x 7.62mm GPMG |
Engine | Steyr M16-Monoblock 6-cylinder Diesel 160 kW (210 hp) |
Transmission | ZF 6HP28X 6-speed automatic transmission |
Maximum speed | 82 mph (132 km/h) |
The Force Protection Ocelot is a British armoured vehicle that replaced the United Kingdom's Snatch Land Rover with British forces. [2] [3] It received the service name Foxhound, in line with the canine names given to other wheeled armored vehicles in current British use such as Mastiff, Wolfhound, and Ridgeback, which are all variants of the Cougar.
It is not to be confused with the BAE Systems Australia Foxhound, a modified Short Brothers S600.
The goal in replacing the Snatch Land Rover was to improve protection of personnel against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Designed by Force Protection Europe and the automotive engineering company Ricardo, the Ocelot is intended for use as a light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) with specialised protection against roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It can weigh up to 7,500 kilograms (16,500 lb) when loaded. This is smaller than most Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, [4] but larger than the Humvee replacement vehicles being developed through the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program. [5]
Powered by a Steyr M16-Monoblock diesel engine [6] (6-cylinder, 160 kW [7] ), connected to a ZF 6HP28X 6-speed automatic transmission, it reaches a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) in 19.75 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 82 mph (132 km/h). [3] Its wheels function independently, so the vehicle's other wheels should continue to work if one is blown off. It is claimed that the engine can be removed and replaced in 30 minutes. [8]
The design is modular, and all of the components can be removed easily. The protective pod where up to six people can sit is interchangeable to allow easy modification according to the vehicle's role. For example, it can perform as an ambulance, supply vehicle, or jeep. Parts can also be easily replaced for minimum service time. It can travel through terrain that would not be accessible to other civilian vehicles, such as jungle, deep mud, or ruts. Its cabin is made of advanced composite materials. It is claimed that such composite materials can provide protection like metal armor with a composite spall liner, but at a lighter weight, saving fuel. [9] Critical parts such as the crew compartment, engine, fuel tank and transmission are contained within the V-shaped armored 'spine' that deflects potential blast away from the pod, thus protecting the occupants and key components.
The Ocelot will be the first British military vehicle to meet the MoD's recent Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) requirements. [10] The GVA requirements are intended to create a single, standard digital electronic and electrical architecture for UK vehicles. [11]
Force Protection Industries in America and Europe has developed several mine-resistant vehicles with V-shaped hulls since 2000, including the Buffalo and the Cougar (specific variants of which were bought by the British military as the Mastiff, Ridgeback, and Wolfhound, and by the Iraqi military as the Badger). These have demonstrated improved protection of soldiers exposed to blast threats. Both the Buffalo and the Cougar are large and heavy. Force Protection developed the Ocelot to meet the need for a smaller, lighter, more versatile vehicle that could still provide protection against blasts.
The Ocelot was first shown in September 2009 by Force Protection Europe at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London. [2] Two units were purchased by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) in April 2010 for further testing. [12]
On 22 September 2010, the MoD announced that the Ocelot would replace the Snatch Land Rover, the previous LPPV, which has received criticism for its lack of protection against roadside bombs. [3] The MoD has renamed the vehicle Foxhound [13] in line with the "dog" names given to other wheeled armoured vehicles in British use, such as Mastiff and Ridgeback. The original order was for 300 vehicles at a cost of £270 million, with another 25 ordered in 2012 at a cost of £30 million. [1]
On 17 June 2012, it was announced by the MoD that the Foxhound had been delivered to Afghanistan and was undergoing final tests and evaluation before being deployed on operations. [14]
On 18 January 2015, Defense News reported that General Dynamics was offering Ocelot to Canada as a replacement for its special forces Humvees. [15]
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the original jeep, and others such as the Vietnam War-era M151 Jeep, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle, and other light trucks. Primarily used by the United States military, it is also used by numerous other countries and organizations and even in civilian adaptations.
The Mowag Eagle is a series of wheeled armoured vehicle designed by Mowag, a Swiss company now owned by GDELS.
The Buffalo is a wheeled mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored military vehicle built by Force Protection, Inc., a division of General Dynamics. It is the largest vehicle in Force Protection's line-up, followed by the Cougar MRAP and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV).
The Cougar is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and infantry mobility vehicle structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
Force Protection, Inc. was a manufacturer of ballistic- and blast-protected vehicles from the United States which have been used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and other hot spots around the world. The company was acquired by General Dynamics in 2011.
The Snatch Land Rover is a protected patrol vehicle based on the Land Rover Defender 110 chassis. Intended for general patrolling in low-threat areas, the vehicle was developed in 1992 for use in Northern Ireland. It provides a limited degree of small arms protection for occupants and a limited level of protection from Improvised Explosive Devices and off-route mines.
The Cheetah MMPV was a prototype built by the Force Protection, Inc., division of General Dynamics. It was intended as part of Force Protection's armoured military vehicle line-up, which includes the MRAP-class of Buffalo and Cougar vehicles and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV).
An infantry mobility vehicle (IMV) is a wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo, Iveco LMV, Oshkosh M-ATV, AMZ Dzik, AMZ Tur, Mungo ESK, and Bushmaster IMV. This term also applies to Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected is a term for United States military light tactical vehicles produced as part of the MRAP program that are designed specifically to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes. The United States Department of Defense MRAP program began in 2007 as a response to the increased threat of IEDs during the Iraq War. From 2007 until 2012, the MRAP program deployed more than 12,000 vehicles in the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.
The International MXT-MV is an infantry mobility vehicle produced by Navistar Defense, a subsidiary of Navistar International, which is the owner of the International brand of vehicles. Introduced in 2006 and developed in parallel with the civilian International MXT, the MXT-MV is extensively modified for military duty compared to its civilian counterpart. It is transportable by the Lockheed C-130 Hercules military aircraft.
Plasan is an Israeli-based company that now specializes in survivability solutions for all domains, the design, development and manufacture of protected vehicles, and most recently maneuvering robotics.
The Humvee replacement process was an effort by the U.S. military to replace the current AM General Humvee multi-purpose motor vehicle. The Humvee had evolved several times since its introduction in 1985, and is now used in tactical roles for which it was not originally intended. The U.S. military pursued several initiatives to replace it, both in the short and long term. The short-term replacement efforts utilize commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, while the long-term efforts focused on building requirements for the Humvee replacement and technology research and evaluation in the form of various prototype vehicles.
The Oshkosh M-ATV is a mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle developed by the Oshkosh Corporation for the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) program. Intended to replace M1114 HMMWVs (Humvee), it is designed to provide the same levels of protection as the larger and heavier previous MRAPs, but with improved mobility.
Force Protection Europe Limited (FPE) was the European subsidiary of Force Protection Inc, which was acquired by General Dynamics in 2011. The UK-based company developed the Foxhound, a light-weight mine-protected military vehicle, which was developed to replace the Snatch Land Rover. FPE won a £180 million contract from the British Ministry of Defence in 2010 to supply 200 Foxhound vehicles. Following the acquisition by General Dynamics in December 2011, the Foxhound is marketed as part of General Dynamics Land Systems vehicle portfolio.
The Hawkei is an Australian light four-wheel-drive protected mobility vehicle. Originally designed in 2010 to meet an Australian Defence Force (ADF) requirement for a light armoured patrol vehicle to replace some of its Land Rover Perentie variants. The Hawkei is a highly mobile, highly protected, 7-tonne vehicle, with inbuilt systems to allow it to be used as a fighting platform. It has been developed with Vehicle Electronic Architecture to be mission system ready.
Burraq is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle currently being developed by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan. It is a 4x4 Protected vehicle based on the chassis of the Isuzu NPS-75 commercial truck so as to reduce the cost and facilitate the delivery of spare parts. In appearance, the Burraq is quite similar to the Wildcat MRAP, developed by the Israel Military Industries (IMI).
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), known and marketed under Oshkosh development as the L-ATV, is a light utility/combat multi-role vehicle. The Oshkosh-developed JLTV was selected for acquisition under the US military's Army-led Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. In the very early stages of the program it was suggested that JLTV would replace the AM General High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) on a one-for-one basis. It is now suggested that the JLTV will partially replace the HMMWV.
The Panama Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is a piece of mine-clearing equipment used by the British Armed Forces.
The Multi Role Vehicle-Protected (MRV-P) is a programme to deliver future wheeled utility and logistics vehicles for the British Army.
General Dynamics UK is the British subsidiary of the American defence and security corporation General Dynamics. Founded in London in 1962, the company has grown to include eight sites across the United Kingdom, including in Bristol, Chippenham, Hastings, Merthyr Tydfil, Oakdale and Rotherham. Specialising in armoured fighting vehicles, avionic systems and tactical communications, the company has produced the General Dynamics Ajax armoured fighting vehicle, the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle and the Bowman communications system. It is one of the UK's leading defence companies and a key supplier to the UK Ministry of Defence.