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Force Protection is preparing to go after the American market with its Ocelot protected vehicle.

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Having recently won a major British competition with its Ocelot vehicle, Force Protection is preparing to go after the American market, according to the company's chief operating officer. Force Protection has briefed U.S. Army and Marine Corps leaders on the Ocelot, but the company wanted to secure a win in the U.K.'s light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) program before pushing it aggressively in the United States, said Randy Hutcherson, chief operating officer for Force Protection, Ladson, S.C. The Ocelot weighs roughly 16,000 pounds and features demountable protected crew pods that allow for different configurations for various roles. Force Protection Europe and British automotive engineering company Ricardo jointly developed the vehicle to meet the British Army's requirements. According to an industry source, the Marine Corps is talking with Force Protection to evaluate the Ocelot as a lighter weight and lower cost alternative to the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), a Humvee-replacement effort with the U.S. Army. The Ocelot is a potential competitor with the JLTV in Australia, where the government is pursuing parallel development efforts for 1,300 new light protected mobility vehicles. While participating in the U.S. JLTV program, the Australian government is evaluating Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) options. These include Thales Australia's Hawkei, General Dynamics Land Systems' Eagle IV and Force Protection's Ocelot. According to Hutcherson, the Ocelot would need to be modified before being ready to sell to the Marine Corps. For example, it is currently designed for right-hand side driving. Its height also would need adjustment to meet the Marine Corps requirements for amphibious ships. These modifications do not present major obstacles, he said.Having recently won a major British competition with its Ocelot vehicle, Force Protection is preparing to go after the American market, according to the company's chief operating officer. Force Protection has briefed U.S. Army and Marine Corps leaders on the Ocelot, but .....
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