Foxhound

The General Dynamics Ocelot, originally the Force Protection Ocelot, is a British light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) developed to replace the Snatch Land Rover in British service. It was designed by Force Protection Europe together with the automotive engineering firm Ricardo, with the specific requirement of improving crew protection against roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices, an area in which the Snatch had drawn sustained criticism. In British service it carries the name Foxhound, following the canine naming convention applied to other wheeled armoured vehicles such as Mastiff, Ridgeback and Wolfhound, all Cougar derivatives. It should not be confused with the BAE Systems Australia Foxhound, a modified Shorland S600.

Force Protection Industries had produced a series of V-hulled mine-resistant vehicles from 2000 onward, including the Buffalo and the Cougar, the latter procured by the British military as the Mastiff, Ridgeback and Wolfhound, and by Iraq as the Badger. Both the Buffalo and Cougar are large and heavy, and the Ocelot was developed to provide comparable blast protection in a smaller, lighter and more adaptable package. It falls between MRAP vehicles and the lighter designs pursued under the American Joint Light Tactical Vehicle programme.

The Ocelot was first displayed in September 2009 by Force Protection Europe at the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in London. The British Ministry of Defence purchased two examples in April 2010 for trials, and on 22 September 2010 announced that the type would replace the Snatch Land Rover. The initial order covered 300 vehicles at a cost of £270 million, with a further 25 ordered in 2012 for £30 million. On 17 June 2012 the MoD announced that the Foxhound had arrived in Afghanistan and was undergoing final testing and evaluation prior to operational deployment.

The design is modular. Critical assemblies — the crew compartment, engine, fuel tank and transmission — are carried within a V-shaped armoured spine that deflects blast away from the occupied pod. The protective pod itself seats up to six and is interchangeable, permitting reconfiguration for roles including ambulance, supply carrier and utility vehicle. The cabin is built from composite materials, which the manufacturer states offer protection equivalent to metal armour with a composite spall liner at reduced weight. Components are designed for rapid replacement; the engine can reportedly be removed and refitted in 30 minutes.

Propulsion is by a Steyr six-cylinder Monoblock diesel coupled to a ZF 6HP28X six-speed automatic transmission. The wheels operate independently, so that the loss of one wheel does not immobilise the vehicle. The Ocelot is capable of crossing jungle, deep mud and rutted terrain impassable to civilian vehicles. It was the first British military vehicle designed to meet the Ministry of Defence's Generic Vehicle Architecture requirements, which establish a common digital electronic and electrical architecture across UK vehicles.

In January 2015, Defense News reported that General Dynamics was offering the Ocelot to Canada as a replacement for its special forces Humvees.