Force Protection, Inc. and General Dynamics Announce Joint Venture Company

, LADSON, S.C: Force Protection, Inc. and General Dynamics Land Systems today announced they will form a joint venture to compete for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program, a U.S. joint services program being managed by the U.S. Marine Corps. 
 
The joint venture was formed to offer Force Protection's Cougar 4×4 and 6×6 armored vehicles as an MRAP solution. The joint venture will include an experienced team in program management, systems engineering, production and service support from both Force Protection and General Dynamics. 
 
“This joint venture is an important strategic step for our company,” said Force Protection CEO Gordon McGilton. “Combining Force Protection's life- saving blast protection technology with the size and capability of General Dynamics will ensure that the MRAP program will be a success and that the vehicles will be the strongest, most advanced blast- and ballistic-protected vehicles in the world. We look forward to working with a company of the caliber of General Dynamics in producing this critically-needed vehicle for our troops.” 
 
“The joint venture will provide our Armed Forces the services of two best- in-class defense companies both dedicated to safeguarding the lives of our servicemen and women,” said Dave Heebner, president General Dynamics Land Systems. “Together we will leverage the complementary skills and resources inherent in our companies to produce Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. I'm pleased to be partnering with a very strong Force Protection team to deliver this mobile and highly survivable vehicle.” 
 
The venture builds on an earlier agreement between the companies for General Dynamics to perform structure fabrication of the armored capsule incorporated in Force Protection's Cougar medium mine-protected vehicle. 
 
The Cougar has been deployed since 2004 in the global war on terrorism. It was first used by the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Fallujah, and is now used by all branches of U.S. armed services due to its unmatched safety record in the field.  
 
Force Protection manufactures ballistic- and mine-protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary. These specialty vehicles are protected against landmines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technology is among the most advanced in the world. The vehicles are manufactured outside Charleston, S.C. 
 
General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, designs, manufactures and supports land and amphibious combat systems for the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and allied nations. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., General Dynamics employs approximately 81,100 people worldwide and expects 2006 revenue of approximately $24 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation.