I got this article from Jonathan..thanks guy!
~Provides Increased Visibility to 2011 Full Year Vehicle Revenue Outlook~
LADSON, S.C., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Force Protection Industries, Inc., a FORCE PROTECTION INC. (NASDAQ: FRPT) group company, today announced it has received a $27.4 million sub-contract from Integrated Survivability Technologies Limited ("IST") for the delivery of 47 Cougar Mastiff vehicles to the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence ("U.K. MoD"). IST is a joint venture between Force Protection Europe Limited, a subsidiary of Force Protection Industries, Inc., and NP Aerospace Limited, a subsidiary of The Morgan Crucible Company plc. Work under this sub-contract will be performed in Ladson, South Carolina, and is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2011.
This falls under the category of WTF!
British involvement is suppose to be winding down in Afghanistan. They already have a vehicle issue (as in too many different types) and its a little late in the game to be adding additional heavy MRAPs that will have limited utility in other war zones.
If this is an example of the course of defense spending in the UK, then I must amend my complaint about the retirement of the Harriers. It wasn't foolish. It was criminal.
They're topping up numbers of a vehicle we've been using for years (and will be doing for at least another 3-4 in Afghan) and which no doubt has been taking a fair bit of damage in combat.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it did surprise me to see the order, not exactly sure what's going on, but it doesn't seem as bad as you are suggesting Sol.
what do you know that i don't Grim901?
ReplyDeletei was just reacting to the article. is there a background story that i don't know about? hey and whats the deal about another 3-4 years in Afghanistan for the Brits?
the Danes and Canadians are pulling out this year...the Australians soon too. are you telling me that the UK is going to stay long after they leave?
Sol,
ReplyDeleteThe Mastiff is one the UKs main vehicles in Afghan (with 3 variants in service). That's why I don't get what the big deal is.
And the UK has said combat ops will end around 2014-2015 in Afghan, and most of the SDSR that was just completed was based around a UK draw down by 2015, hence most army capabilities being sustained until then.
Once again the UK is staying to fight alongside the USA when others aren't. That is something that perhaps you should bare in mind every now and then when you attack us and lump us in with the rest of Europe.
Sol,
ReplyDeleteCool down this is just a follow on order for previously announced contract. The Brits will still be in AFG for another few years like the US will.
And in addition the need for these admittedly big vehicles will come again. Maybe in Libya.
P.S. I own FRPT stock and it did NOT go up?
The Danes are staying, alongside the British, until the bitter end.(wich means sometime after 2014)We are beginning a small and gradual drawdown of combat troops(20-30) this year though.Instead we will deploy more instructors and trainers for the ANA and ANP.
ReplyDeleteSo despite being "eurothrash" we're not jumping ship just yet ;-)
geez.
ReplyDeleteyou guys aren't getting my feelings on this. i want the UK, Canada, Australia, the Danes and the rest of the allies out for one very important reason...
i want my own country out of Afghanistan as soon as possible.