Apparently if the US finally ramps up production of the Cougar personnel vehicle (could've been done years ago) and uses them instead of Hummers, injuries will go down further. Supposedly no one's been killed while in one, even nearby an exploding IED:
Overview
The Cougar is produced by Force Protection Inc, a US-based company, who - according to their investor profile - "Manufactures ballistic and mine-protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary. These specialty vehicles are protected against land mines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices."
[edit] Variants
The Cougar comes in two configurations, a 4x4 and 6x6 configuration. It is designed for transport and protection of military engineers, especially against land mines and smaller ballistic explosives such as rocket propelled grenades, as well as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Tempest MPV (British version 4 x 4)
Cougar H (4 x 4)
Cougar HE (6 x 6)
Mastiff PPV (British version of the Cougar HE)
[edit] Operators
Iraq
United Kingdom [1][2]
United States
The Cougar is used by the United States Armed Forces and Iraqi Army and will soon be delivered to the British Army. In service with those countries, the Cougar is used in a variety of roles, including the HEV (Hardened Engineer Vehicle) and the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicles (JERRV) whilst in service with the US Marine Corps.
The British forces variant will, compared to the original Cougar vehicle, be fitted with large, vertical armor plates which cover the large vision blocks and weapon firing ports. This is in line with British Army doctrine concerning the role of the APC/MICV, specifically that it is to carry troops under protection to the objective and then give firepower support when they have disembarked. It is not clear whether the Mastiff will be fitted with any armaments, either smoke dischargers and a cupola sporting a L7A2 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) - the FN MAG 7.62 x 51 mm, L110A1 Light Machine Gun 5.56 x 45 mm or a L1A1 Heavy Machine Gun .50 inch (12.7 mm) BMG (Browning Machine gun). One aspect of the British Army's approach to APC/MICV units (which differs to that of the United States) is that ability of the average soldier to fire accurately out of the ports of a moving IFV has been questioned. The large armour plates will also give added side protection from RPGs or IED explosions.
The British Army has operated an early version of the Cougar since 2002 in the form of the Tempest MPV. [3][4] As of August 2006, the British Army has ordered 86 Cougar HE 6x6 vehicles for deployment in Iraq, and they will be known as Mastiff PPV (Protected Patrol Vehicle). It is conceivable that further orders may follow in the future if the vehicle performs adequately, perhaps replacing the older Saxon armoured trucks (some of which are being redesigned as armoured battlefield ambulances) until the introduction of FRES.
