LADSON, S.C., The U.S. Army has issued an initial order to Force Protection, Inc. for approximately 19 Buffalo mine clearance vehicles to be used in Iraq and Afghanistan, the company announced today. The order for vehicles, training and field support is the first given under a procurement contract and is worth an estimated $21 million.

"We are encouraged by this order and the fact that it has come so quickly after the procurement contract was announced," said Force Protection CEO Gordon McGilton. "This is a clear indicator that the critical need for the Buffalo continues to increase, and we will respond accordingly by delivering the first vehicles to the Army in the next 30 days."

The Buffalo was first deployed with the Army Corps of Engineers in 2003. This is the first time, however, that the Army's Tank-automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Michigan has placed an order.

"Force Protection has the necessary infrastructure in place to meet customer requirements for both the Buffalo and Cougar series," said McGilton. "The processes and resources are unique to each vehicle. We will be able to maximize already-existing Buffalo production cells while moving forward on expansion of multiple Cougar production lines. These distinctions are necessary due to the dramatically larger market represented by Cougar and its multiple configurations."

Since its inception in 1997, Force Protection has become the nation's leading center for research against IEDs and blast protection technology.

Force Protection, Inc.
09.02.2006