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US Spends $50.9M for 79 More Cougar JERRV Mine-Resistant Vehicles

Posted 04-May-2006 06:16

Cougar-H & EOD Team
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Force Protection Industries, Inc. in Ladson, SC received a $50.9 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ordering quantity of 79 Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV) and associated manuals, spares, field support, and training. Work will be performed in Ladson, SC (60%) and Charlotte, MI (40%), and work is expected to be complete by May 2007. This contract is a sole source award to Force Protection Industries, Inc. as they are the sole manufacturer. The Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA issued the contract (M67854-06-D-5042).

DID has covered the Cougar HEV/JERRV in-depth before, and the article includes very positive field reports re: its performance with engineer and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units. This contract is in addition to the 27 Cougars purchased by the Marines for use in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the 122-vehicle all-services order DID covered in May 2005.

House committee passes $512 billion defense bill
Measure focuses on IED defense, life insurance, adding troops

By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, May 5, 2006

WASHINGTON — Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan would see more radio jammers, flight patrols and Humvee armor under a budget proposal designed to “take back the roads,” House leaders said Wednesday.

The $512.9 billion budget, passed 60-1 by the House Armed Services Committee, is more than $73 billion above what Pentagon officials and the president requested.

Most of that difference is $50 billion inserted by House officials to pay for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, in an effort to avoid the semiannual emergency spending bills Congress has faced in recent years.

But anti-IED devices and other force-protection measures also make up a large portion of the difference. The measure would set aside $110 million for radio frequency jamming devices, including $69 million for smaller handheld models which can be used by foot patrols.