British Army’s new Foxhound vehicles undergo final testing

19 June 2012 army-technology.com

The British Army's new Foxhound light protected patrol vehicles are currently undergoing final testing in Helmand desert, Afghanistan, prior to their operational deployment by end of the year.

UK defence secretary Philip Hammond said that £270 had been spent on 300 of the British-built vehicles to help keep troops protected.

"Foxhound's arrival in Afghanistan is great news for our soldiers," he said. "Our servicemen and women deserve the best protection we can get them."

Designed and built specifically for UK armed forces, the agile and versatile vehicle will become the mainstay in the British Army to protect troops from threats in Afghanistan.

The vehicle is lighter and smaller when compared to protected vehicles such as Mastiff and Ridgback.

Equipped with advanced protected patrol vehicle technology, the vehicle's size and weight offers significant levels of blast protection.

General Sir Peter Wall, chief of the general staff, added: "Foxhound gives the British Army the very latest level of protection on operations. This has been a well-run programme that will play a key role in equipping the army of 2020."

Incorporated with Formula One racing technology to provide speeds of up to 70mph, the v-shaped hull vehicle also safeguards crew against improvised explosive devices.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a £90m contract for an additional 100 Foxhounds to General Dynamics Land Systems: Force Protection Europe (GDLS:FPE), which brings the total number of vehicles to be delivered to British army to 300.