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Buffalo Armored Vehicle Featured on Discovery Channel Series

Submitted by: John Warner on Dec 17, 2005 at 1:46 am Tagged with: Automotive Source:

Discovery Channel Series Features Force Protection Industries' Buffalo Armored Vehicle

Ladson, SC – Force Protection, Inc. (OTCBB:FRPT) and its Buffalo mine-protected vehicle have been featured on the Discovery Channel in the United Kingdom and Canada. The Buffalo, which has been used by the U.S. military in mine clearance missions for more than two years, was dubbed “a fully-armored safe deposit box on wheels” in the broadcast’s Mean Machines series that aired during November 2005.

Discovery Channel noted that the Buffalo could withstand bomb blasts that would “shred a lesser vehicle.” Mine detection teams can examine and remove potential explosive threats by using a 30-foot robotic arm without leaving the safety of the vehicle’s steel hull, or by simply running over them.

“This vehicle is built to absorb explosive forces so that its passengers don’t have to,” said Force Protection Vice President Michael Aldrich. “Our objective is to protect the lives of U.S. and Coalition forces, which cannot be replaced, by sacrificing automotive parts that can be.”

Discovery Channel reported that the extraordinary strength of the Buffalo that allows it to run through mine fields undamaged is due to the blast protection technology incorporated into the vehicle. This includes a v-shaped design that deflects energy away from the hull, solid steel wheels, and five-inch-thick ballistic-protected glass.

“The Buffalo is designed to take multiple hits without experiencing disruption to its normal operation and function,” noted Aldrich. “We have had no fatalities in any of our vehicles to date.”

Both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps use the Buffalo to detect and remove suspected explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are over 50 Buffalos deployed with more in production or en route to active theaters of operation.

The Discovery Channel segment will be viewable on the Force Protection Web site, http://www.forceprotection.net, after 12:00 pm EST today.