New version of the Ocelot Force Protection light protected vehicle at DSEI 2011.

The vehicle that demonstrates this highly significant capability is the Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle from Force Protection Europe, which will be entering service with UK MOD in 2012 under the name Foxhound. One o the stars of DSEi 2011, Ocelot will be seen with the pods that enable the vehicle to be adapted within two hours to command & control, utility and weapons variants, providing commanders with multiple options from a standard protected chassis. Ocelot combines this adaptability with outstanding levels of manoeuvrability, maintainability and protection.

In the protected patrol variant crew and passengers sit inside a protective pod made of advanced composite materials incorporating Formula 1 racing technology; while beneath them critical components such as the engine, fuel tank and transmission are contained in a V-shaped armoured spine that deflects a blast away from the vehicle. The vehicle, which has gone from a clean sheet design to production in a little over two years, has successfully undergone more than 50 physical blast tests.

Ocelot is attracting worldwide interest and Force Protection is one of three companies selected for consideration to undertake the next phase of the Australian Government's Land 121 programme. The Land 121 contract is for the production of up to 1,300 vehicles valued at more than $A1 billion by the Australian Government.

David Hind, Managing Director of Force Protection Europe, said, 'Ocelot will enable militaries to rationalise their fleets in a way that enhances, rather than limits, operational capabilities. It is the right vehicle at the right time for operators that are having to reconcile the need for multi-mission capability with financially constrained budgets.