Freshpet Inc (FRPT)

[Pedtupe]

NEWS: U.K. Orders New Force Protection Equipment For Troops In Iraq, Afghanistan

http://www.pinksheets.com/quote/news.jsp?url=fis_story.asp%3Ftextpath%3DCOMTEX%5Cph%5C2006%5C07%5C27...

Jul 27, 2006 (Defense Daily/Access Intelligence via COMTEX) -- Charleston, S.C.-based Force Protection, Inc. [FRPT.OB], Britain's BAE SYSTEMS and ATL will be working to improve force protection for U.K. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, after an urgent armored vehicle review.

"The protection of our Forces is a top priority," Defence Secretary Des Brown announced Monday. The package stems from an urgent review last month to help keep deployed troops safer in the face of developing threats.

Before this announcement, the Ministry of Defence had spent about $976.7 million on urgent operational force protection requirements for Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to funds in the annual defense budget.

Around 100 additional ATL Pinzgauer "Vector" vehicles will be bought, Brown said. The Vector will offer increased protection, mobility and capacity. The Austrian company Steyr-Puch originally designed Pinzgauer vehicles in the 1970s. ATL has owned the rights for the past few years. The Pinzgauers are in addition to 66 already under contract that will begin delivery early in 2007.

For Iraq, about 70 uparmored and upgraded FV430 tracked troop carriers will be bought in addition to the 54 on contract with BAE, with deliveries starting later this year, building to a mechanized infantry battleground by the spring of 2007.

Force Protection will build around 100 new medium-weight wheeled vehicles called Cougar, which will be delivered to Iraq and Afghanistan over the next six-month rotation with an effective capability in Iraq by the end of the year. The vehicles would be less intimidating than the Warrior tracked armored vehicle, developed by GKN plc, now part of BAE.

Once the vehicles are delivered, they will receive General Dynamics [GD] Bowman radios, electronic counter-measures and additional armor.

Defense Daily, Vol. 231, No. 16

Copyright 2006 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.