Ocelot (vehicle)
Encyclopedia
The Force Protection Ocelot is an armoured vehicle that is scheduled to replace the United Kingdom
's Snatch Land Rover
with British forces in Afghanistan
and Iraq. It will receive the service name Foxhound.
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 device
s (IED)s. It can weigh up to 7500 kilograms (16,534.7 lb) when loaded.
Powered by a Steyr
M16-Monoblock Diesel engine (6-cylinder, 160kW), it reaches a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) in 19.75 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km/h). Its wheels function independently, so the vehicle's other wheels should continue to work if one is blown off. The design is modular, all of the components can be removed easily and the protective pod where up to six people can sit is interchangeable to allow easy modification according to the vehicle's role. Its cabin is made of advanced composite materials. 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.
. Two units were purchased by the British Ministry of Defence
(MoD) in April 2010 for further testing.
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. The first Ocelots are expected to be delivered to troops in 2011. The final price and quantity of the order were undetermined as at 30 November 2010. The MoD announced that 200 Ocelots had been ordered, at a cost of £180 Million. The MoD has renamed the vehicle Foxhound in line with the names given to other wheeled armoured vehicles in current British use, such as Mastiff and Ridgeback.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Snatch Land Rover
Snatch Land Rover
The Snatch Land Rover is a protected patrol vehicle, based around the Land Rover Defender 110 chassis, intended for general patrolling in low-threat areas and is the successor to the Truck Utility Medium with Vehicle Protection Kit...
with British forces in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and Iraq. It will receive the service name Foxhound.
Design
Designed by Force Protection EuropeForce Protection Europe
Force Protection Europe is the British defence company which developed the Ocelot light-weight mine-protected military vehicle....
and the automotive engineering company Ricardo
Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo and founded on 30 June 1927 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting...
, the Ocelot is intended for use as a light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) with specialised protection against roadside bombs and improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s (IED)s. It can weigh up to 7500 kilograms (16,534.7 lb) when loaded.
Powered by a Steyr
Steyr Motors GmbH
Steyr Motors is an Austrian manufacturer of Diesel-engines based in Steyr, Upper-Austria.-History:Steyr Motors has its origin in the Diesel-engine division of the earlier Steyr-Daimler-Puch group. Since 2001 it became an independent company trough internal Management Buyout.In 2008 Steyr Motors...
M16-Monoblock Diesel engine (6-cylinder, 160kW), it reaches a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) in 19.75 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km/h). Its wheels function independently, so the vehicle's other wheels should continue to work if one is blown off. The design is modular, all of the components can be removed easily and the protective pod where up to six people can sit is interchangeable to allow easy modification according to the vehicle's role. Its cabin is made of advanced composite materials. 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.
History
The Ocelot was first shown in September 2009 by Force Protection Europe at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Two units were purchased by the British Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
(MoD) in April 2010 for further testing.
On 22 September 2010, the MoD announced that the Ocelot would replace the Snatch Land Rover
Snatch Land Rover
The Snatch Land Rover is a protected patrol vehicle, based around the Land Rover Defender 110 chassis, intended for general patrolling in low-threat areas and is the successor to the Truck Utility Medium with Vehicle Protection Kit...
, the previous LPPV, which has received criticism for its lack of protection against roadside bombs. The first Ocelots are expected to be delivered to troops in 2011. The final price and quantity of the order were undetermined as at 30 November 2010. The MoD announced that 200 Ocelots had been ordered, at a cost of £180 Million. The MoD has renamed the vehicle Foxhound in line with the names given to other wheeled armoured vehicles in current British use, such as Mastiff and Ridgeback.