×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Pay Chart (2023) Military Ranks
Advertisements
HOME
ARMOR
MODERN ARMIES
COUNTRIES
MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE
BY CONFLICT
BY TYPE
BY DECADE
MODERN
UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN WAR
Land Systems / Battlefield

Force Protection Cougar


Troop Transport / Command and Control Communications / EOD / Lead Convoy Vehicle [ 2002 ]



The Cougar has spawned into a new line of all-important mine-resistant vehicles for the US and British military forces in Iraq.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/07/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Advertisements
The Cougar has since expanded into a full line of militarized armored vehicles. This began with the base 4x4 and 6x6 series Cougar systems being offered in 2004 by FPI to the United States Marine Corps. The Badger ILAV (Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle) was a similar system developed and built by FPI with help from BAE Systems specifically for the rebuilding Iraqi Army. The Cougar JERRV (joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle was formed as a designation for the collection of 4x4 and 6x6 Cougar systems for use by the USMC, USAF and the US Army after public outcry of the lack of protection being offered to US servicemen and women in Iraq. Cougars in their 4x4 and 6x6 configurations are now collectively referred to as MRAPs.

The Cougar's power is supplied by a single Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine developing up to 330 horsepower and mated to an Allison 3500SP transmission. Suspension is full 4x4 or 6x6 depending on the chassis model with a vehicle ground clearance of 15 inches. Armor protection remains classified as of this writing. The 4x4 vehicle weighs in at roughly 43,000lbs and can seat up to 6 personnel including 2 as standard operators (drivers). The 6x6 version weighs in at a maximum of 64,500lbs and can seat 2 standard operators along with 8 additional passengers. Range of the Cougar is listed at 420 miles with a top speed of 55 miles per hour.

Fording is possible up to 39 inches at a 40 degree approach angle. A top-mounted hatch is standard as are heating, air conditioning and automatic engine and crew cabin fire extinguisher systems. Tires are Michelin XZL 395/85 R20 types. Additional methods of entry are provided for through the driver and co-driver sides as well as a rear-mounted crew double door.

Both Cougar models can fit remotely-operated turret systems with armament of the operators choosing. Armament can include a Browning M2 12.7mm heavy machine gun, an M240 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, an M249 SAW 5.56mm light machine gun or the Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Armament can also be supplemented by any crew-served weapons fired through the available firing ports.

The British Army took delivery of similar systems beginning with the Ridgeback PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle). These systems were based on 4x4 Cougars built by FPI with British-friendly armor and electronics systems which included the "Enforcer" remote weapon station. The Mastiff PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) is the Cougar 6x6 system built by FPI, again with British-friendly systems and armor. With this version, however, conversion is being handled by NP Aerospace.

Production of MRAP class vehicles began in 2002 at a single unit cost of $475,000 ($644,000 per unit of the 6x6 version). Operators of the system include the United States, United Kingdom (157 Ridgebacks and 248 Mastiffs), Iraq (1,050 to be delivered), Italy (operating at least 6 Cougar 6x6 models), Hungary (at least 3 examples) and Poland (operating at least 40 Cougars on loan from the US military).

In addition to the US military use, the Cougar was also utilized by Blackwater USA during their tumultuous tenure in Iraq.

The Cougar is certified for military air transport.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

April 2022 - The British government has agreed to send Mastiff MRAPs and Jackal Light Patrol Vehicles (LPVs) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in its fight against Russia.

Advertisements

Specifications



Service Year
2002

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Status
ACTIVE
In Active Service.
Crew
2
CREWMEN
Production
3,500
UNITS


Force Protection Industries, Incorporated (FPI) - USA
(View other Vehicle-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of Canada National flag of Hungary National flag of Iraq National flag of Italy National flag of Pakistan National flag of Poland National flag of Ukraine National flag of the United Kingdom National flag of the United States Canada; Iraq; Italy; Hungary; Pakistan; Poland; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.
MRAP
Designed to withstand attacks from mines and ambushes through specialized design and survivability features.
Reconaissance
Can conduct reconnaissance / scout missions to assess threat levels, enemy strength, et al - typically through lightweight design.
Utility
General utility-minded design to accomplish a variety of battlefield tasks, typically in a non-direct-combat fashion.
Special Purpose
Special purpose design developed to accomplish an equally-special battlefield role or roles.


Length
20.8 ft
6.35 m
Width
8.9 ft
2.71 m
Height
9.9 ft
3.02 m
Weight
42,999 lb
19,504 kg
Tonnage
21.5 tons
MEDIUM
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Force Protection Cougar 4x4 production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
Powerplant: 1 x Caterpillar C7 diesel-fueled engine developing 330 horsepower at 2,400rpm driving conventional four- or six-wheeled arrangement.
Speed
54.7 mph
(88.0 kph)
Range
420.0 mi
(675.9 km)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Force Protection Cougar 4x4 production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)
OPTIONAL:
Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS) supporting M249 SAW 5.56mm machine gun, M240 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun, Browning M2 12.7mm caliber heavy machine gun or MK 19 40mm grenade launcher.

Also any crew weapons firing from supplied firing ports.


Supported Types


Graphical image of a tank medium machine gun
Graphical image of a tank heavy machine gun


(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Dependent armament configuration.


Cougar 4x4 - Original 4x4 Wheel Configuration
Cougar 6x6 - Original 6x6 Wheel Configuration
Cougar HEV (Hardened Engineer Vehicle) - Early 4x4 and 6x6 class Cougars for use by the United States Marine Corps.
Badger ILAV (Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle) - Iraq Export Model; based on original Cougar; production by BAE Systems and Force Protection Industries.
Cougar JERRV (Joint EOD Rapid Response Vehicle) - Later model 4x4 and 6x6 class Cougars for use by the United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force and United States Army; commonly referred to collectively as "MRAPs".
Ridgeback PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) - British Export Variant; based on Cougar 4x4 models; British-specific armor and electronics; optional fitting of "Enforcer" remote weapon station.
Mastiff PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle) - British Export Variant; based on Cougar 6x6 models; British-specific armor and electronics package integration handled by NP Aerospace.
MRAP - 4x4 and 6x6 class Cougars for use by US Military.


Military lapel ribbon for the American Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of the Bulge
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Kursk
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental military vehicles


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.

Images Gallery



1 / 4
Image of the Force Protection Cougar
Image from the U.S. DoD; Public Release.
2 / 4
Image of the Force Protection Cougar
Image from the U.S. DoD; Public Release.
3 / 4
Image of the Force Protection Cougar
Image from the U.S. DoD; Public Release.
4 / 4
Image of the Force Protection Cougar
Image from the U.S. DoD; Public Release.


Advertisements




Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2023 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons.

View day-by-day actions of the American Civil War with CivilWarTimeline.net. View day-by-day actions of World War II with SecondWorldWarHistory.com.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)