LADSON, S.C., May 5 (UPI) -- The British Ministry of Defense says it has awarded two contracts to South Carolina-based Force Protection Inc. for mine resistant ambush protected vehicles.
The foreign military sales contracts were recently approved by the U.S. Congress. The combined contracts are for 157 of Force Protection's Cougar category one MRAP vehicles along with service and support. Officials say the approximately $94 million deal is an effort by the British military to increase protections to soldiers from the evolving threats of improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We are pleased to note the ongoing interest in and demand for the company's proven blast protection technology around the world," Damon Walsh, Force Protection executive vice president for customer operations, said in a statement. "Our vehicles' record for survivability and sustainability leads the industry. Force Protection is proud to have the continued support of our British customer."
Officials say the announced MRAP order is scheduled for completion by July 2009.
