27 Jun 08 15:27
MoD sketch of Ridgback
The Ministry of Defence has ordered 157 American-built Ridgback armoured vehicles to replace Land Rovers in its fleet. The Ridgback was unveiled yesterday at a defence vehicles exhibition at Millbrook, Bedfordshire.
A version of the Force Protection Cougar 4x4, the Ridgback will be deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq from next year.
It is said to offer much greater protection to troops from mines and roadside bombs than the outdated, elderly Land Rover Defenders currently in use, and to be more manoeuvrable. It is just one of a number of new vehicles the Army is ordering.
The Ridgback will join the larger Mastiff and Jackal jeep in the £150million fleet overhaul which will see the Snatch Land Rover phased out. It can carry up to 12 people and run on flat tyres, doing up to 55mph. The 157 vehicles are being fitted with weapons, communications systems and extra armouring, and will be sent to Afghanistan where troops will be trained to use them before deployment into battle.
Baroness Taylor, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: 'Mastiff has been a huge success, well-liked by troops on patrol, offering high levels of protection against mines and roadside bombs, and it has saved our troops' lives on many occasions. As a smaller version of the Cougar 6x6 vehicle which underpins Mastiff, the Cougar was the natural choice.'
