LADSON, S.C., July 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has contracted Force Protection (NASDAQ:FRPT) to support the company's Buffalo and Cheetah mine resistant ambush protected vehicles.

The contract, modified from a previous deal, now totals $42.5 million for Force Protection to support its MRAP vehicles deployed by the Marine Corps Systems Command. Force Protection's MRAP vehicles are designed to offer greater protection to soldiers from improvised explosive devices, among other threats, while operating in Iraq and Afghanistan's volatile combat zones.

Officials say work on the announced contract will be performed by Force Dynamics, Force Protection's joint venture with General Dynamics Land Systems. Work is expected to be completed by December 2009.

"We remain proud of and grateful for the strong relationship we have developed with the United States Marine Corps, our largest customer," Michael Moody, Force Protection chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

"We continue to see and respond to the need for service and support for their fleet of vehicles."