LONDON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The British Ministry of Defense has announced the purchased of 140 additional Mastiff vehicles for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made the announcement saying the additional Mastiff vehicles are an effort to better enhance the mobility and protection for troops in theater.
Mastiff is the British version of the South Carolina-based Force Protection Inc.'s Cougar vehicle, an armored defense Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle widely used by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Mastiff has proved its value on operations offering high levels of protection against mines and roadside bombs," said British Secretary of State for Defense Des Browne, in a statement. "I am pleased to announce our intention to purchase 140 extra Mastiffs.
"It's my job to make sure we are delivering the best equipment we can for our Armed Forces. The extra Mastiffs will give us a real increase in capability for our troops."
The Ministry of Defense contracted Coventry-based NP Aerospace to install additional British configurations to the Cougars for a finished Mastiff vehicle.
Discussions are currently under way with the U.S. government to agree on the export of the extra vehicles from Force Protection Inc.
