1. 1. Cougar Ridgback 44 MRAP Armoured Vehicle, United Kingdom
2. 2. CONTENT INTRODUCTION DESIGN ENGINE PERFORMANCE SELF-PROTECTION
3. 3. INTRODUCTION With UK Forces active in Afghanistan and Iraq a new vehicle was ordered by the UK MoD (Ministry of Defence) to provide protection to troops on patrol from mines and roadside bombs. The vehicle was the Cougar 44 produced by Force Protection Industries Incorporated (Ladson, South Carolina) in the US, who were also responsible for the highly successful Mastiff. NP Aerospace in Coventry had the contract (81m) for carrying out the modifications to the Cougar.
4. 4. DESIGN Ridgeback is an up-armoured version of the Cougar MRAP vehicle. The vehicle has three doors (two in front and one rear double-sized crew door) and one topside hatch. Ridgeback is 2m shorter and 1m slimmer than the Mastiff. Its standard dimensions are: height 104in (gun shield will add 26in), width 102in, length 233in, hull internal length 108in, fording depth 39in, and ground clearance 15in-16in.
5. 5. ENGINE The vehicle is powered by a Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine that can give 330hp at 2,400rpm and a torque of 860ft lbf at 1,450rpm with an operational range of 420 miles. The transmission for the Cougar / Ridgback is an Allison 3500 SP series and the front and rear axles are Marmon- Herrington MT-17 and R-17 respectively (modified for the harsh terrain). The vehicle weighs around 38,000lb with a payload of 6,000lb and as such uses air brakes for effective halting.
6. 6. PERFORMANCE The Ridgback entered service in June 2009 in Afghanistan (it is fully transportable by C17). The vehicle can carry 12 troops and can run on run flat tyres (Michelin XZL 395/85 R20 and Hutchinson VFI) at a speed of 55mph. The Ridgback is a mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) category I vehicle with a high armour rating (shaped hull and protected cabin using composite armour systems) and will also uses special armoured seats to protect troops.
7. 7. SELF-PROTECTION Ridgback is hinged with additional armour to protect the occupants from mine and improvised explosive device (IED) strikes. The V-shaped hull deflects the blast impact away. from the vehicle. The add-on side armour can preclude the projectiles, shell splinters and RPG attacks.
8. 8. REFERNCE http://www.army- technology.com/projects/cougar_ridgback/ http://www.army- technology.com/projects/cougar_ridgback/cou gar_ridgback1.html http://www.army- technology.com/projects/cougar_ridgback/cou gar_ridgback2.html
9. 9. THANK YOU