News Review: GD to buy Force Protection | ADM Dec 2011 / Jan 2012

General Dynamics will acquire Florida-based vehicle armouring company Force Protection for approximately US$360 million. Force Protection will become a part of General Dynamics Land Systems, the designer and manufacturer of Abrams main battle tanks and Stryker, LAV and ASLAV infantry combat vehicles.

The two companies are also rivals in the ADF’s Project Land 121 Ph.4 – Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light) in which their GD Eagle IV and Force Protection Ocelot vehicles are pitched against the Thales Hawkei and, possibly, the US JLTV. ADM understands the purchase of Force Protection will not affect the two companies’ rival bids.

“Force Protection complements and strategically expands General Dynamics’ armored vehicle business, adding new products to the expansive portfolio of combat vehicles that we currently manufacture and support,” said Mark C. Roualet, president of General Dynamics Land Systems.

Force Protection has delivered more than 3,000 vehicles under the US military’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program, and also provides Cougar and Buffalo mine-protected vehicles to foreign customers including the UK Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Government has awarded a C$1.064 billion contract to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to incorporate a comprehensive upgrade package into 550 Canadian Army LAV III combat vehicles.  The LAV III Upgrade Project will significantly enhance their survivability, mobility and firepower and extend the fleet’s lifecycle to 2035.

The DMO recently cancelled part of a similar upgrade to the Australian Army’s ASLAV fleet citing, among other things, integration risk, the need for an automotive upgrade to ensure the vehicle remains safe at a higher all-up weight and fears the upgrade wouldn’t be completed before the ADF begins it final withdrawal from Afghanistan.