Cougar (vehicle)

Cougar H (4×4)
Cougar in service with a US Marine unit in Iraq
Type	Infantry Mobility Vehicle
Place of origin	United States South Africa
Service history
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Iraq War War in Afghanistan War in Donbass
Production history
Designer	Technical Solutions South Africa
Manufacturer	Force Protection, Inc.
Unit cost	$475,000
Produced	2002
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	Curb: 32,000 lb (14.5 t) Gross max: 38,000 lb (17.2 t)
Length	19.41 ft (5.91 m)
Width	9.0 ft (2.74 m)
Height	8.67 ft (2.64 m)
Crew	2+4
Armor	Classified
Main armament	Optional remote weapon station (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System II)
Secondary armament	Optional firing ports
Engine	Caterpillar C-7 Diesel I6 330 HP (243 kW)
Payload capacity	6,000 lb (2.72 t)
Transmission	Allison 3500SP automatic
Suspension	4×4 wheeled
Ground clearance	15 in (410 mm)
Operational range	600 mi (966 km)
Speed	65 mph (105 km/h)

Cougar HE (6×6)
Cougar HE
Place of origin	United States South Africa
Service history
Used by	United States Armed Forces British Army
Wars	Iraq War
Production history
Designer	Technical Solutions (South Africa)
Manufacturer	Force Protection, Inc.
Unit cost	$644,000
Produced	2002
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	Curb: 38,000 lb (17.2 t) Gross max: 49,000 lb (22.2 t) Mastiff: 50,000 lb (22.7 t) maximum
Length	7.08 m (23.25 ft)
Width	2.74 m (9.0 ft)
Height	2.64 m (8.67 ft)
Crew	2+10
Armor	allround protected from .50 cal
Main armament	Optional remote weapon station (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System II)
Secondary armament	Optional firing ports
Engine	Caterpillar C-7 Diesel I6 243 kW (330 hp)
Payload capacity	13,000 lb (5.90 t)
Transmission	Allison 3500SP automatic
Suspension	6×6 wheeled
Ground clearance	15 in (410 mm)
Operational range	600 miles (966 km)
Speed	65 mph (105 km/h)

The Cougar is an 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. 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 100 °F (38 °C) 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. A few vehicles were sold to the US Army for evaluation, and a small fleet of heavily protected vehicles were sold to the British Army in 2001.

In 2004, the new Cougar was designed by a small British-led team in the US at Force Protection, Inc., in response to an urgent requirement by the US Marine Corps. This was a new design, developed in the US, based on an evolution of vehicle mine-protection technology used by the South African Army and Rhodesian Security Forces since the 1970s. The very first sketches of the new vehicle were made in late March 2004 in response to those initial USMC inquiries. The rapid development and production that followed was based upon the USMC request that the first vehicle be delivered within 6 months of an order - which was subsequently placed in mid-April 2004 for 27 units.