Ridgeback Armoured Car

Ridgeback Armoured Vehicle

4x4 Armoured Vehicle

Ridgeback Armoured Vehicle

Ridgeback belongs to the family of mine-protected, multi-role and medium vehicles that were produced by the US manufacturer Force Protection Inc. Ridgeback was designed in order to suit a wide range of military operations. These operations may include the urban and rural minefields and terrains. Ridgeback is available in the 6x6 layout and 4x4 layout. The 6x6 version may even transport up to 9 troops on the battlefield regardless of the terrain. A disposal robot can also be added to its equipment in order to provide the military operation with successful results. Ridgeback has a personnel carrier role but it can also be used in order to take care of control and command operations.

It can be used for artillery transport, as a recovery vehicle or it can play the role of an ambulance in emergency situations. Ridgeback may serve in support of the highly effective EOD teams and reconnaissance missions because it can provide them with communication, control and command abilities. Ridgeback was designed in order to be well protected from blast effects and mines.

Ridgeback Engine / Propulsion

This vehicle is powered by the Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine that yields 330-shp of power. This power allows the massive Ridgeback to cruise by reaching 55 mph (90 kph) at a range of 600 miles (900+ km). This speed can be reached when on the highway / main roads.

Self-Protection / Armour

The blast and mine protection is improved because the armoured hull was designed in order to withstand strong ballistic impacts coming from the well known 7.62mm NATO ammunition. Even its glass can withstand these powerful and negative effects.

The large and armoured plates will provide the crew with the necessary protection. The crew will be protected from IED and RPG explosions.

Ridgeback Battlefield Deployment

Ridgeback has been ordered by the American forces in order to be deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. In Iraq, the Ridgeback has proven its agility and efficiency while fighting in difficult combat environments. This vehicle has managed to demonstrate that it can withstand the most powerful effects. It can survive the dangerous urban ambushes and road mines without affecting its crew.

This vehicle was used in order to clear away the highways and roads of this country. It was used in order to get rid of the improvised explosive devices that were threatening the American convoys. In addition to its steel plates, hull design and ceramics, the Ridgeback can be armed with other military devices. For instance, one can install roof-mounted guns on this vehicle. The small caliber ones are to be used in order to protect the crew from the enemy fire. Additional protection can be provided and the American army has become of aware of this. Therefore, Ridgeback was ordered in order to complete the present military forces.

The operational Ridgeback was already deployed by the American troops in Iraq but the British troops are using this vehicle too, especially in the urban environments of Iraq and Afghanistan. These troops will benefit from a greater protection by using the former Cougar vehicles that were redesigned and upgraded in order to obtain the present Ridgeback model. This transformation has turned out to be a real success. Actually, the MOD has already ordered 157 Cougars coming from the Force Protection Incorporated in America. This is to be regarded as an Urgent Operational Requirement. Having arrived in this country, the Cougar base vehicles were morphed into the present Ridgeback versions by being upgraded and redesigned. These upgrades have mainly consisted in new and integrated additional protection systems and upgraded weapons. The communication systems and even the special counter-measures equipments were upgraded too. Afterwards, the Ridgeback has joined its big brother called Mastiff and has taken part to active military operations. Ridgeback is suited to a wide range of terrains, threats and tempos of operation.

Ridgeback provides the UK commanders with increased abilities and performances when coping with dangerous combat environments. Each active and military situation will require its own type of vehicle but the Ridgeback seems to remain the perfect choice for many of these military performances. The Ridgeback vehicle is likely to provide the troops with a new boost of energy and efficiency because it can guarantee their increased protection while fighting.

This vehicle can offer the same protection that the Mastiff offers to its crew and the differences are minor. The same protection will be offered by this smaller vehicle and its current size is likely to improve the efficiency of the troops because it will not require a large crew in order to be driven and operated. Ridgeback was designed in order to provide the troops with greater and protected accessibility in all the urban environments. This vehicle is also comparable to the well known Force Protection's Cougar 4x4 vehicle. Critical protection will be delivered to the British troops.

Ridgeback is being used in the British Army in a wide variety of military roles. For instance, it can be used as hardened engineer vehicle or as the joint explosive ordinance and disposal rapid response vehicle. Ridgeback is fitted with the necessary vertical and large armour plates. These plates cover its entire surface in order to provide the crew with an increased protection. Even the weapon firing ports and the large vision blocks are covered by these armoured plates in order to decrease its vulnerability while on combat. The most important feature of this military vehicle is the fact that it can carry the troops under increased protection. It can carry them right to the necessary objective. It can also provide the necessary firepower support in order to protect the disembarked troops.

Armament / Weapons

Ridgeback can be fitted with different types of machine gun (light and General use), grenade launchers, a Browning machine gun or 50mm cannon.

Ridgeback shares the major components and basic platform with the well known Mastiff. The Ridgeback is likely to benefit from this already established support because the same training regimes will be used in its case. The same training regimes that have already been proven in the case of the Mastiff will be deployed. The use of the Ridgeback will provide the necessary and greater protected accessibility in all the urban environments whilst his brother the Mastiff will be used in order to perform operations in the rural the urban fringe environments. Ridgeback's weapons are likely to include the self-defense systems, the mixtures of the Grenade Machine Gun mounted, the 7.62 Heavy Machine Gun and the General Purpose Machine Gun. Some of these military vehicles will also be upgraded and fitted with some remote weapons systems in order for the commander to operate them by using the joystick and camera that can be found within the Ridgeback and without having to leave the vehicle.

Upgrades

The latest upgrades of this armoured vehicle have managed to pass beyond the trial periods. They are already used in Afghanistan and Iraq and their efficiency was already proven in public. This heavily armoured vehicle is used in order to underline the necessity of the emergency steps when it comes to the national security. This vehicle is highly protected against the explosive devices thanks to its adequate armour. Ridgeback is a very effective and modified version of the well known 4x4 American Cougar. It armour upgrades protect the crew from roadside bombs and mines.