FORCE PROTECTION NEW

News!!!! LPPV CONTRACT. $280 mil / 200 vehicles United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Signs on for 200 Force Protection Ocelot Vehicles LADSON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Force Protection Europe, a Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT - News) group company, today announced that it has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply an order of 200 Ocelots and an initial spares package for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) program. The contract is valued at approximately £180 million (approximately US $280 million) with delivery of the vehicles scheduled to begin in the second half of 2011 and be completed by spring 2012. The announcement means that Force Protection Europe’s unique new light protected patrol vehicle can now lay claim to two important industry firsts. The Ocelot will be the first ever British designed and built protected patrol vehicle to include a fully composite pod to protect the occupants. This innovative module has been developed by drawing on technology from the motorsports industry. Ocelot will also be the first British military vehicle to accommodate the MoD’s new Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) requirements. The objective of the GVA project is to create a single, standard digital electronic and electrical architecture for UK vehicles that will enable crew to manage power and handle data efficiently on the vehicle, and for the vehicle to be easily adapted when the need arises. Designed, developed and built in the UK by survivability specialist Force Protection Europe and automotive specialist Ricardo plc, together with Team Ocelot partners Thales, QinetiQ, Formaplex, DSG and Sula, the Ocelot is the most highly protected and agile vehicle of its size and weight that is available today. A clean sheet design, the Ocelot has undergone more than 12 months of rigorous blast and mobility testing before being chosen by the MoD. David Hind, Managing Director, Force Protection Europe, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this important contract. Ocelot is a step change in protected mobility for this weight and class of vehicle and I am confident that it will be used to great effect in Afghanistan and any future operations. My number one priority now is to ensure that these vehicles are delivered to the MoD within the agreed timeframe. We are fully geared up to achieve this.” Michael Moody, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Force Protection, Inc., said, “We are pleased to have completed the contract negotiations to supply our Ocelot vehicle for the UK forces. We believe that our success in the LPPV program gives the Ocelot significant credibility and will be a catalyst for opportunities in the U.S. and other markets around the world, including in Australia where we are pursuing a contract to manufacture up to 1,300 next-generation protected mobility vehicles under the ‘Land 121 Phase 4’ program.” http://finance.yahoo.com/news/United-Kingdom-Ministry-of-bw-2972852455.html?x=0&.v=1

Force Protection Europe Selected as Preferred Bidder for U.K. Light Protected Patrol Vehicle LADSON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Force Protection Europe Ltd (FPE) an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT - News), a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, today announced that it has been selected by the United Kingdom (U.K.) Ministry of Defence (MoD) as the preferred bidder in the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) program. The initial Ocelot vehicles are expected to be available for the training of U.K. forces in 2011. Formal contract negotiations (including final determination of vehicle quantities and price) between FPE and the U.K. MoD will begin shortly. Designed, developed and to be built in the U.K. by FPE and Ricardo plc for the LPPV program, Ocelot is the best protected and most agile vehicle of its kind. At an approximate gross vehicle weight of only 16,500 pounds, the Ocelot’s unique design allows crew and passengers to sit inside a protective pod made of advanced composite materials incorporating Formula One racing technology. Beneath the occupants critical components such as the engine, fuel tank and transmission are contained in a V shaped armored spine that deflects any potential blast away from the vehicle, and protecting these key components. FPE’s Managing Director, David Hind, said, “This is excellent news for U.K. servicemen and women, and for the U.K. defense industry. Ocelot has been designed and developed in the U.K. from first principles, with our Team Ocelot partners, to save lives and protect against injury and to optimise maintenance and repairability. Working closely with Ricardo, our success is a tribute to the efforts of our ‘Best of British’ supply chain, including Thales, QinetiQ, Formaplex, the U.K. MoD’s Defence Support Group and Sula Systems.” Michael Moody, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Force Protection, Inc. commented, “The success of Ocelot in the United Kingdom’s LPPV program is extremely important to our corporate strategy of providing a broad range of survivability solutions, including in tactical wheeled vehicle programs. Our family of vehicles has proven to save thousands of lives around the world and we look forward to providing Ocelots to help ensure British troops return safely from their missions. Clearly, we are proud of what the Force Protection Europe team and related partners have achieved with Ocelot.” Mr. Moody concluded, “Internationally, Ocelot is expected to play a much larger role in providing potential customers a vehicle that incorporates not only a high degree of blast and ballistic protection but also superior mobility and maintainability – these levels are currently unequaled by any vehicle of its size on the battlefield. As such, we expect there could be significant demand for the Ocelot in the worldwide marketplace for years to come.”

Force Protection Receives $62.4 Million Award for 60 Buffalo Vehicles LADSON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Force Protection, Inc. (NASDAQ: FRPT), a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, today announced it has received a modification to contract W56HZV-08-C-0028 from the United States Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for approximately $62.4 million for 60 Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicles (MPCV). This contract modification is subject to definitization. The work will be performed in Ladson, S.C., and is expected to be completed prior to June 30, 2011. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010. Randy Hutcherson, Chief Operating Officer for Force Protection, commented, “The Buffalo is highly successful and we are proud of its performance in Iraq and Afghanistan. Buffalo has proven to be the leader in route clearance missions and has saved untold numbers of lives over the last several years in combat operations. We look forward to delivering these additional Buffalos over the coming months to the troops conducting vitally important missions.” About Force Protection, Inc. Read more: http://www.nasdaq.com//aspxcontent/newsstory.aspx?selected=FRPT&symbol=FRPT&textpath=20100505%5CACQBIZ201005050730BIZWIRE%5FUSPRX%5F%5F%5F%5FBW5636%2Ehtm&cdtime=05%2F05%2F2010+7%3A30AM#ixzz0n3qFtesC

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