UK to order 150 protected vehicles through Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR)

Britain is to order 150 medium-weight protected patrol vehicles as part of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) to equip its forces fighting in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) said work is under way to identify the vehicle type with an intention to have the selected platform delivered starting next year.

A ministry spokeswoman declined to name potential contenders in negotiation with the ministry, citing commercial sensitivities.

Industry sources said the Rafael Golan, Force Protection Cheetah and Thales Bushmaster were among the vehicles that had been under consideration. The vehicles have all been contenders in the U.S. Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program.

The British already operate a fleet of the larger Force Protection Cougar vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Defence Ministry signaled its intention in April to run a competition to acquire about 180 medium protected patrol vehicles. Delivery date was 2009. The program was unfunded, although cash was released to mount a 12-month capability concept demonstration.

The spokeswomen said the demonstrator program will continue until its conclusion next year. The fate of the medium patrol vehicle program is unclear, but it appears to have been overtaken by the urgent operational requirement funded by the Treasury.

This latest armored vehicle procurement will be known as the Ridgeback. The Cougar has been renamed the Mastiff and the British FV432 update is known as the Bulldog.

Source: A. Chuter - DefenseNews

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