MoD Selects ‘Best of British’ Patrol Vehicle

Force Protection Europe, a British company based in Leamington Spa, has been selected by the UK MoD to supply an initial order of Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicles.

Designed, developed and built in the UK by Force Protection Europe and Ricardo plc, together with Team Ocelot partners Thales, QinetiQ, Formaplex, DSG and Sula, Ocelot is weight for weight, the best protected and most agile vehicle of its kind. The crew and passengers sit inside a protective pod made of advanced composite materials incorporating Formula 1 racing technology. Beneath them critical components such as the engine, fuel tank and transmission are contained in a V-shaped armoured spine that deflects a blast away from the vehicle.
Ocelot is highly flexible: the pods can be changed in the field in two hours to equip the vehicle for different missions, such as patrol, fire support or the transportation of vital supplies. Eye-catchingly manoeuvrable, Ocelot is equally effective in built-up urban areas and mountain passes.
While protecting crew within the vehicle has always been the first priority, Ocelot has also been designed from the outset to be easily repaired and maintained in the austere environment of a forward operating base. The armoured V-shaped hull houses the main fuel tank, drive line, batteries and generator and the powerpack; this means these vital components are all protected from potential blasts. Not only will this design reduce repair times and costs, because the Ocelot does not include sacrificial elements as part of its protection package, but crucially it also enhances the availability of vehicles for operations in-theatre.
Force Protection Europe Ltd’s Managing Director, David Hind, said: ‘This is excellent news for UK servicemen and women, and for the UK defence industry. Ocelot has been designed and developed in the UK from first principles, with our Team Ocelot partners, to save lives, protect against injury and to optimise maintenance and reparability. We are very proud that, subject to the outcome of satisfactory contract negotiations, the MoD has recognised the innovation, skill and commitment that has been put into Ocelot’s development and the trust they have placed in Force Protection Europe. Ocelot meets a global demand for a radically new light protected patrol vehicle. This initial vote of confidence by the UK MoD will send a significant signal to other potential customers.’
Dave Shemmans, CEO of Ricardo plc, said: ‘We are delighted that Force Protection Europe and Team Ocelot have been selected as the preferred bidder for this vitally important UK defence programme. We are also very proud of the key role Ricardo’s automotive design expertise has played in creating this truly exceptional vehicle.