| Cougar H (4×4) | |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Infantry Mobility Vehicle |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Used By: | See Operators |
| Wars: | Iraq War War in Afghanistan Syrian Civil War Second Libyan Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Designer: | Technical Solutions South Africa |
| Manufacturer: | Force Protection, Inc. |
| Unit Cost: | $475,000 |
| Production Date: | 2002 |
| Variants: | See Variants |
| Weight: | Curb: 32,000 lb (14.5 t) Gross max: 38,000 lb (17.2 t)[2] |
| Length: | 19.41 ft (5.91 m) |
| Width: | 9.0 ft (2.74 m) |
| Height: | 8.67 ft (2.64 m) |
| Crew: | 2+4 |
| Armour: | Classified |
| Primary Armament: | Optional remote weapon station (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System II) |
| Secondary Armament: | Optional firing ports |
| Engine: | Caterpillar C-7 Diesel I6 |
| Engine Power: | 330 HP (243 kW) |
| Transmission: | Allison 3500SP automatic[3] |
| Payload Capacity: | 6,000 lb (2.72 t) |
| Suspension: | 4×4 wheeled |
| Clearance: | 15 in (410 mm) |
| Vehicle Range: | 600 mi (966 km) |
| Speed: | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
| Cougar HE (6×6) | |
| Origin: | United States South Africa |
| Is Vehicle: | yes |
| Used By: | United States Armed Forces British Army |
| Wars: | Iraq War |
| Designer: | Technical Solutions (South Africa) |
| Manufacturer: | Force Protection, Inc. |
| Unit Cost: | $644,000 |
| Production Date: | 2002 |
| Variants: | See Variants |
| Weight: | Curb: 38,000 lb (17.2 t) Gross max: 49,000 lb (22.2 t)[4] Mastiff: 50,000 lb (22.7 t) maximum[5] |
| Length: | 7.08 m (23.25 ft) |
| Width: | 2.74 m (9.0 ft) |
| Height: | 2.64 m (8.67 ft) |
| Crew: | 2+8 |
| Armour: | all-round protection from .50 BMG[6] |
| Primary Armament: | Optional remote weapon station (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System II) |
| Secondary Armament: | Optional firing ports |
| Engine: | Caterpillar C-7 Diesel I6 |
| Engine Power: | 243 kW (330 hp) |
| Transmission: | Allison 3500SP automatic |
| Payload Capacity: | 13,000 lb (5.90 t) |
| Suspension: | 6×6 wheeled |
| Clearance: | 15 in (410 mm) |
| Vehicle Range: | 600 miles (966 km) |
| Speed: | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
The Cougar is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and infantry mobility vehicle structured to be resistant to landmines and improvised munitions.
It is a family of armored vehicles produced by Force Protection Inc, which manufactures ballistic and mine-protected vehicles. The vehicles are integrated by Spartan Motors. These vehicles are protected against small arms, land mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using a combination of design features and materials to protect both the crew and engine compartment against a wide range of attacks.[7] A monocoque type, V-shaped hull extends to the engine bay and serves to direct the blast away from under the vehicle. The dual air-conditioners help keep heavily dressed troops from overheating in temperatures over 100F in Iraq.
Force Protection, Inc. was formed in 2002 when Sonic Jet purchased Technical Solutions Group, using the name Sonic Jet until 2004. Technical Solutions Group had been a defense company in the US that was involved in a range of products, including mine-resistant vehicles based on South African designs. Two vehicles were sold to the US Army for evaluation which were used for ordnance clearance on Army ranges, and eight heavily protected vehicles, called Tempest, were sold to the British Army in 2001; these were fitted with an extra ceramic armored bellyplate for protection against Russian TMRP-6 "tank-killer" mines intended to attack the center of a vehicle.
In early 2004 the United States Marine Corps (USMC) visited Force Protection and, having seen a photo-montage of a new design of MRAP on a company brochure, asked if it could be produced and delivered within 6 months of an order for operations in Iraq. The photo was a still only concept image, but a senior person in the company offered to design, develop and build a new vehicle, that met the USMC requirement, within the deadline of 6 months. This was achieved in spite of limited funds and having to set up and train personnel in military-type projects. The package handed over to the USMC in October 2004 also included an initial set of spares and technical publications. Given that most defence companies quote at least ten years to develop a new vehicle, to have achieved this in some five and a half months was extraordinary.
The new design differed in many respects from the earlier South African vehicles, although in order to provide a degree of continuity for government contracting reasons, it retained the name "Cougar" given to two earlier GMC-powered vehicles sold to the US Army. The new Cougar had a single hull bottom-plate that ran the whole length of the vehicle, and this formed the basis of the protection of both the crew compartment and the engine-bay. It made for a much stiffer hull, with fewer welds, adding to the overall level of blast-protection. The structure of the hull around the commander and driver was considerably strengthened to add to the torsional stiffness of the vehicle, and the hull-sides were redesigned to provide additional space for troops or equipment. A full armor-upgrade pack was offered from the start, and the design specifically allowed for the addition of advanced armor systems such as the British chobham type.
Growth potential was limited in many of the South African designs, and this was addressed from the outset in the new Cougar. Heavier axles and a more powerful engine and transmission were selected, all of which were already in use in the US and other forces that were thought to be likely users of the Cougar. Logistic support was a major design requirement, and the components chosen were carefully assessed for the level of support that their respective original equipment manufacturers could provide.
Above all, the new design was developed under the auspices of first-world defence standards such as the United States Military Standard and the UK's Defstans, both of which also conformed with NATO STANAGs. This required, amongst other things, that a full product safety-case be developed and maintained from the outset, as well as appropriate training needs analysis and spares predictions. This meant that the new Cougar was capable of being fully operational in a wide range of climatic conditions by fully-equipped and clothed NATO troops, based upon a 95-percentile NATO crewman.
The initial USMC requirement, based upon first meetings with Force Protection VPs, was written on half a page of foolscap. After further talks, the need for levels of mobility covering beach-operations resulted in a suggestion that the 4x4 design should be augmented by a 6x6 version, which would also have a larger payload and volume in the cargo area. It was this version that led to increased US Army interest, as they had a need for a vehicle to carry a large explosive ordnance disposal robot. Subsequent meetings with the Army also led to changes in some of the major sub-systems to ensure even greater commonality with in-service equipment in order to ease training and support.
When the first Cougar was built, the USMC were asked if it might be retained for a month or two for testing. They replied that they had an urgent operational need for it in theater, but would take the advice of the VP handling the program about what to do. He said he felt that they should take the vehicle, to which the USMC program-lead replied "Good, we totally agree, for we know that you would never have designed a defective vehicle!" And so it left the factory, untested, and was in "action" a few days later in the Middle East.
The first 27 or so vehicles delivered to the USMC were called the Hardened Engineer Vehicle (HEV), a reference to the original intended Marine Corps operational role. This was changed to the 'Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle', or JERRV, when the Army joined the program and took over the prime-contractorship. Later, and to satisfy the needs of politicians to show that they were committed to the war in Iraq, the program was again changed to MRAP, at which time other companies became involved in the design and supply of similar vehicles, most of which were based in part, or entirely, upon the Cougar.
Some 7,000 of these vehicles were fielded under the US military's MRAP and other national vehicle programs.[8] US Defense Secretary Robert Gates demanded that the vehicles be ordered in larger numbers after the Marines reported in 2004 that no troops had died in more than 300 IED attacks on Cougars.[9] Since then, Cougar vehicles have been hit by improvised explosive devices many times in Iraq with few fatalities. Britain chose the Cougar over the RG-31 Nyala for their "Mastiff" APV.[10]
Official data states that the Cougar is able to withstand a blast of at least 14 kg (30.86 lb) TNT under a wheel and 7 kg (15.43 lb) TNT under its belly.
The Cougar comes in two main configurations, a 4×4, and 6×6. It is designed for the transport and protection of troops and equipment, especially against mines or IEDs. The two main configurations come in specific variants.
Azerbaijan – 4 used by peacekeeping forces
Burundi – Donated for Burundian forces in Somalia.[19]
Uganda – Donated to Ugandan forces in Somalia.
Ukraine – Operates 20 with half being on loan to the OSCE. The UK donated an undisclosed number of Mastiffs following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in April 2022.[39]
Uzbekistan[43]The Cougar is used primarily by the United States Armed Forces and the British Army, as well as law enforcement agencies in the United States. In service with those countries, the Cougar is used in a variety of roles, including the HEV (Hardened Engineer Vehicle) and the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV) while in service with the US Marine Corps, US Navy Seabees, and US Air Force Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers.
Compared to the original Cougar vehicle, the British variant is fitted with large, vertical armor plates that cover the large vision blocks and weapon firing ports. This is in line with British Army doctrine concerning the role of the APC/MICV, specifically that it is to carry troops under protection to the objective and give firepower support when they have disembarked. The Mastiff is fitted with a turret sporting either a L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun, L110A1 Light Machine Gun, L11A1 Heavy Machine Gun or L134A1 40 mm Grenade Machine Gun.[45] One aspect of the British Army's approach to APC/MICV units (which differs to that of the United States) is that the ability of the average soldier to fire accurately out the ports of a moving IFV has been questioned. The large armor plates add side protection from RPGs or IED explosions.
The British Army has operated an earlier MPV named "Tempest MPV".[46] [47] As of November 2008, the British Army has ordered over 400 Cougar vehicles for deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan following a series of Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). Deliveries of the first 86 Mastiffs began in February 2007, and an order for 22 further vehicles was placed in March, bringing the total to 108. In October 2007, Gordon Brown announced a further 140 Mastiffs and 157 new Cougar 4x4 variants, named Ridgback were being ordered to protect troops from mines and roadside bombs.[48]
Canada has deployed the Cougar since October 2007 in Afghanistan.[49]
From November 2008, forty Cougar H were lent by the United States for the Polish contingent in Afghanistan. In Polish service they carried 7.62 mm PK machine guns.[50]
On Jan 5, 2012 an Air Force EOD Team, Team Tripwire, three Airman, were killed by a remote detonated IED attack.
A British Mastiff suffered an IED attack in Afghanistan in April 2013 which caused three fatalities.[51]