The Cougar is a South African-designed United States MRAP and infantry mobility vehicle
structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
It is a family of armored vehicles produced by Force Protection Inc, which manufactures
ballistic and mine-protected vehicles. The automotives are integrated by Spartan Motors.
These vehicles are protected against small arms, land mines and improvised explosive
devices using a combination of design features and materials to protect both the crew and
engine compartment against a wide range of attacks. A Monocoque type, V-shaped hull extends
to the engine bay and serves to direct the blast away from under the vehicle. The dual
air-conditioners help keep heavily dressed troops from overheating in temperatures over
100 °F in Iraq.
Development Technical Solutions Group was a defence company
in the US which was involved in a range of products, including mine-resistant vehicles
based on South African designs. A few vehicles were sold to the US Army for evaluation, and
a small fleet of heavily protected vehicles were sold to the British Army in 2001. Technical
Solutions was purchased in 2002 by Sonic Jet and the combined company renamed itself Force
Protection Inc in 2004. In 2004, the new Cougar was designed by a
small British-led team in the US at Force Protection, Inc., in response to an urgent
requirement by the US Marine Corps. Contrary to common belief, this was not a South African
vehicle but rather a new design, developed in the US, based on an evolution of vehicle
mine-protection technology used by the South African Army and Rhodesian Security Forces
since the 1970s. The very first sketches of the new vehicle were made in late March 2004
in response to those initial USMC inquiries. The rapid development and production that
followed was based upon the USMC request that the first vehicle be delivered within 6 months
of an order - which was subsequently placed in mid-April 2004 for 27 units.
The new design was called Cougar to provide a degree of continuity with the older designs,
but had little in common with them. The former vehicles were almost entirely non-compliant
with NATO standards for protection, human factors and safety, which made those designs
obsolete. The Cougar was effectively a totally new vehicle which incorporated the latest
US-made enhancements, a new hull design and structure, as well as built-in growth potential,
including dimensions that allowed for the addition of the latest armor and protection
systems. The first vehicle was never trialed before
leaving the factory beyond doing some circuits of the company campus and trundling over a
few rocks. Urgent operational requirements dictated that the first unit be shipped to
theater as fast as possible and those involved in the project decided that the risk of doing
so was outweighed by the advantages of having the vehicle available. The operational record
of the Cougar validates that decision. It was fully trialed when it became part of the
MRAP program. The first Cougars were called HEV, which became
JERRV when the Army joined the program, and then MRAP for political reasons when the requirement
for many thousands of units was issued. Some 4,000 of these vehicles were fielded
under the US military's MRAP and other vehicle programs. US Defense secretary Robert Gates
demanded that the vehicles be ordered in larger numbers after the Marines reported in 2004
that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougars. Since then, Cougar vehicles
have been hit by improvised explosive devices many times in Iraq with few fatalities. Britain
chose the Cougar over the RG-31 Nyala for their "Mastiff" APV.
As of December 2011, the Pentagon plans to add the Crows II remote weapon station and
the Frag Kit 6 anti-EFP armor. Variants
The Cougar comes in two configurations, a 4×4 and 6×6. It is designed for the transport
and protection of troops and equipment, especially against mines or IEDs.
Cougar HEV 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles ordered in 2004 by the
USMC. Badger ILAV
Based on the Cougar and manufactured by FPII and BAE Systems for the Iraqi Army. The ILAV
is based on the Cougar, which can carry ten passengers. The Cougar/ILAV vehicle uses a
capsule design to protect the passengers and key vehicle components from mines and roadside
bombs. The larger Cougar costs about $730,000 each, fully equipped. The Cougars have been
very popular with American troops, and with Iraqis who have worked with them. 865 ILAVs
were ordered by Iraq and 18 by Yemen. The ILAV gives the Iraqis the same degree of protection
that most Coalition troops have. Cougar JERRV
4x4 and 6x6 variants for the US Army, USAF, and USMC. Approx. 200 ordered in 2005 and
2006, with another 200 ordered in late 2006 but now called MRAPs to take account of the
new US military/political initiative to be seen to be responding to public concerns about
casualties. Cougar ISS
Based on the Cougar 4x4, the ISS is fitted with an integrated independent suspension
system that gives the vehicle increased cross-country mobility.
Ridgeback PPV British version of the Cougar 4x4 from FPII
base vehicles with a British armor package and electronics, including installation of
Enforcer remote weapon stations on some vehicles. Mastiff PPV
British version of the Cougar 6x6, with FPII providing the base vehicle and NP Aerospace
in the UK integrating electronics and the British armour package. The Mastiff 2 is an
improved version with a capacity of 2 + 8. The Mastiff is armed with a 7.62 mm GPMG,
12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun or 40 mm Grenade Machine Gun.
Mastiff 2 'Protected Eyes' A version of the British Mastiff specially
designed for the Talisman Counter-IED program. It is fitted with an M151 Protector remote
weapon station, mine plow, optical camera and a Micro Air Vehicle with screens in the
back to display its camera feed. Wolfhound
British modification of the Cougar 6x6, with FPII providing the base vehicle and NP Aerospace
in the UK integrating electronics and the British armor package. The first Wolfhounds
entered service in Afghanistan in October 2010. 130 have been ordered for gun tractor
and logistical roles. MRAP
Several thousand vehicles of 4x4 and 6x6 configuration for all of the US Armed Forces, though mostly
for the USMC. Over 3500 MRAPs will be delivered by the end of 2008.
Timberwolf Cougar variant that was being marketed by
Malley Industries of Dieppe, NS Canada for the replacement of the RG-31 and LAV for the
Canadian Forces; Malley Industries lost the contract to Textron TAPV.
Operators Canada for Canadian Forces - 40 Cougar JERRV
Croatia - 4+ US Army donated several Cougar MRAPs to the Croatian Army ISAF contingent
in Afghanistan. Denmark - 40 Cougar leased from USA. Used
in Afghanistan by the army. Djibouti - 12 for Djiboutian Army
Georgia - 10 in service Georgian Land Forces. Also Georgian HQ units who are part of the
ISAF are using the Cougar HEs in the Helmand Province.
Hungary - 3+10 Cougar ordered Iraq - Badger 378 ordered in 2007,+ 865
ordered by 2011. Italy - 6 Cougar HE used in Afghanistan
by the Italian Army. Pakistan: - 20 Cougar JERRV received from
US under Coalition Support Fund in 2010. Poland - 40 on loan from the US
Romania - Used in Afghanistan by the army. Ukraine - 20 vehicles in service with the
National Guard. United Kingdom - 400 Mastiffs, 125 Wolfhounds
and 160 Ridgebacks. United States
Blackwater USA US Army
US Navy US Marine Corps
US Air Force
Operational history The Cougar is used by the United States Armed
Forces and Iraqi Army and has now entered service with the British Army as well as law
enforcement agencies in the United States. In service with those countries, the Cougar
is used in a variety of roles, including the HEV and the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Rapid Response Vehicles while in service with the US Marine Corps, US Navy Seabees, and
US Air Force RED HORSE.
Compared to the original Cougar vehicle, the British Forces variant is to be fitted with
large, vertical armor plates which cover the large vision blocks and weapon firing ports.
This is in line with British Army doctrine concerning the role of the APC/MICV, specifically
that it is to carry troops under protection to the objective and give firepower support
when they have disembarked. The Mastiff is fitted with a turret sporting either a L7A2
GPMG, L110A1 Light Machine Gun, L11A1 Heavy Machine Gun, L134A1 40mm Grenade Machine Gun,
or even a 50mm cannon. One aspect of the British Army's approach to APC/MICV units is that
ability of the average soldier to fire accurately out the ports of a moving IFV has been questioned.
The large armor plates add side protection from RPGs or IED explosions.
The British Army has operated an earlier MPV named "Tempest MPV". As of November 2008,
the British Army has ordered over 400 Cougar vehicles for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan
following a series of Urgent Operational Requirements. Deliveries of the first 86 Mastiffs began
in February 2007, and an order for 22 further vehicles was placed in March, bringing the
total to 108. In October 2007 Gordon Brown announced a further 140 Mastiffs and 157 new
Cougar 4x4 variants, named Ridgback were being ordered to protect troops from mines and roadside
bombs. Canada has deployed the Cougar since October
2007 in Afghanistan. A British Mastiff suffered an IED attack in
Afghanistan in April 2013 which caused three fatalities.
Gallery
See also Kamaz Typhoon
Ural Typhoon Cheetah MMPV
Buffalo MRAP
International MaxxPro Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle
References
External links [1] "Mastiff" on British Army website
Mastiff 2 on Army-Technology.com Force Protection Cougar page
Hungarian Cougar 4x4, EOD version Cougar MRAP H 4x4 Technical data sheet and
pictures Army Recognition Cougar MRAP HE 6x6 Technical data sheet and
pictures Army Recognition Cougar page on GlobalSecurity.org
Cougar 4x4 page and Cougar 6x6 page on deagel.com New Cougar HEV to hit Corps soon
BBC News Article including reference to Cougar Purchase
Military.com News about Cougar at Defense-Update
Cougar H/HE on Armour.ws Youtube Video of "Future Weapons" episode
featuring the Cougar. Youtube video of U.S. Military produced show
"Iraq Freedom Minute" episode of Cougar MRAP Project Details of Cougar 4x4 Variant on Army
Technology Mastiff Force Protection Vehicle on Armedforces.co.uk