UK Ministry of Defence,
British troops in the urban environments of Afghanistan and Iraq are set to benefit from greater protection as the first “Cougar” vehicles begin their transformation into “Ridgbacks”.
The MOD has ordered 157 Cougar 4x4s from Force Protection Incorporated in America, as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR).
Having arrived in the UK, the Cougar base vehicles will morph into the Ridgback – being upgraded with integrated additional protection, weapons, communications systems and specialist electronic counter-measures equipment – and then join their big brother, the Mastiff, on operations.
Ridgback and Mastiff protected vehicles, along with the Viking, Bulldog, Warrior, Vector, and Snatch (all currently being used on operations) are variously suited to different threats, terrains and tempos of operation. Together, they give UK commanders the ability to choose the best vehicles for each situation.
The total number of new protected vehicles MOD is delivering to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq now stands at almost 600.
Defence Secretary, Des Browne said:
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“I am determined to do all that I can to get more armoured vehicles out to our forces on operations – to give Commanders a choice about what vehicles they use. The Mastiffs have saved lives out in theatre and we have ordered the Ridgback because it is a smaller version of the Mastiff – offering our forces first-rate protection with more manoeuvrability.”
Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said:
“Mastiff has been a huge success, well liked by troops on patrol, offering high levels of protection against mines and roadside bombs and it has saved our soldiers lives on many occasions. As a smaller version of the Cougar 6×6 vehicle which underpins Mastiff, the Cougar 4×4 was the natural choice to become the Ridgback protected vehicle.
“Ridgback will give our troops a further boost continuing the significant improvements we have made to the protection of our forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
The Ridgback will offer high protection, similar to the Mastiff, but in a smaller vehicle. It will provide greater protected accessibility in urban environments, whilst Mastiff will continue to operate in the urban fringe and rural environments.
