Body
3-door 4×4 and one hatch, internal cabin dimensions behind front seats is 108in
Length
233in
Width
102in
Height
104in-130in
Weight
38,000lb
Ground Clearance
15in-16in
Maximum Speed on Road
55mph on run-flat tyres but top speed should be a little over 65mph on tarmac roads
Full specifications
With UK Forces very much active in Afghanistan and Iraq a new vehicle has been ordered by the UK MoD (Ministry of Defence) to provide protection to troops on patrol from mines and roadside bombs. The vehicle is the Cougar 4×4 produced by Force Protection Industries Incorporated (Ladson, South Carolina) in the US, who were also responsible for the highly successful Mastiff.
"The Ridgback will be produced in four variants for different roles."
By November 2008, the MoD had ordered 400 Cougars (the contract is due for completion by July 2009; a contract valued at around $200m) and these will be modified by the addition armour systems, specialist Nato-spec weapons, communications systems and electronic countermeasures equipment into the 'Ridgback' when they arrive in the UK (the vehicles were ordered as an urgent operational requirement (UOR)).
The first batch of five Cougars was delivered to RAF Brize Norton on 14 August 2008. NP Aerospace in Coventry has the contract (£81m) for carrying out the modifications to the Cougar.
Ridgback weaponry
The Ridgback weapons will include the heavy machine gun, 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, grenade launcher and some will be equipped with remote weapons systems allowing the Ridgback weapons to be operated from inside using a camera and joystick.
Des Browne, the UK Defence Secretary, commented: "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."
The Ridgback will be produced in four variants for different roles – a troop carrier, a protected weapons station and an ambulance or command post vehicle.
Performance
The Ridgback will come into service in 2009 in Iraq and Afghanistan (it is fully transportable by C17). The vehicle can carry 12 troops and can run on run flat tyres (Michelin XZL 395/85 R20 and Hutchinson VFI) at a speed of 55mph. The Ridgback is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) category I vehicle with a high armour rating (shaped hull and protected cabin using composite armour systems) and will also use special armoured seats to protect troops.
The vehicle will be powered by a Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine that can give 330hp at 2,400rpm and a torque of 860ft lbf at 1,450rpm with an operational range of 420 miles.
"The first batch of five Cougars was delivered to RAF Brize Norton on 14 August 2008."
The transmission for the Cougar / Ridgback is an Allison 3500 SP series and the front and rear axles are Marmon-Herrington MT-17 and R-17 respectively (modified for the harsh terrain). The vehicle weighs around 38,000lb with a payload of 6,000lb and as such uses air brakes for effective stopping.
The standard crew is six, but with the Ridgback there will be several versions. Electrics are standard 24V and there are two air conditioning units (24,000BTU and 48,000BTU) for use in hot climates.
There are three doors (two in front and one rear double-sized crew door) and one topside hatch.
The Cougar's standard dimensions are: height 104in (gun shield will add 26in), width 102in, length 233in, hull internal length 108in, fording depth 39in, ground clearance 15in-16in.
The cabin can be sealed to provide NBC protection and there are various other accessories including four point harnesses for seats, integral tool kit, ballistic glass, 360° ring mount or spigot mount for weapons, infrared / blackout lighting, dual spare wheels, 9,000lb-capacity electric winch and fire extinguishing systems as well as shielded ammo storage areas.
