Force Protection bids for £1bn Australian army contract with Foxhounds

09 Feb 2011 by Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent THE TELEGRAP

British company Force Protection Europe, which has developed a "world-beating" vehicle to replace the maligned Snatch Land Rovers, is in the running to win a A$1.3bn (£1bn) contract with the Australian army.

Two of the mine-protected Foxhounds will leave for Australia later this month as part of trials for a light-weight protected vehicle. Force Protection Europe, which makes the Foxhound in alliance with automotive specialist Ricardo, will be in competition with vehicles from Thales and General Dynamics. A key factor in Force Protection Europe potentially winning the bid will be the decision by the British Army to select the Foxhound as its new Light Protected Patrol Vehicle that will be ready for operations in Afghanistan next spring.