UK MoD confirms additional Foxhound acquisition

UK Defence Minister, Peter Luff, has confirmed the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) intention to spend around £30 million on an additional 25 Foxhound vehicles for the British Army. Luff made the announcement 23 August 2012.

Speaking at the army’s Bulford Camp, Luff confirmed the additional purchase, saying: ‘Foxhound’s cutting edge technology gives our troops the ability to engage with Afghan civilians, as they must, whilst benefitting from a high level of protection. Personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade will be amongst the first to use this outstanding new vehicle. This is another example of how the MoD, having balanced the budget, is now able to confidently spend money on the equipment that our personnel really need.’

Personnel from 4th Mechanized Brigade will be amongst the first to make use of the new vehicle on operations. Foxhound provides very high blast protection levels against the threats faced by troops on the front line. Robust enough to withstand the blast from an IED, it has a top speed of 70 mph. The engine can also be removed and replaced in just 30 minutes and it can drive away from an ambush on only three wheels.

The number of Foxhound vehicles on order was increased to 300 in June this year, when the government finalised a contract for an additional 100 vehicles.

According to the MoD, this latest purchase, worth approximately £30 million, will bring the total spend on the development of the vehicle to more than £300 million in the last two years. The army will see more than £5.5 billion of investment in armoured vehicles over the next ten years as part of the £160 billion that will be spent on equipment and support.