Ridgbacks Arrive By Antonov 124

Cougar 4x4s for conversion to Ridgback

A Polet Antonov An-124-100 carried the first customised Cougar 4×4 armoured vehicles into RAF Brize Norton this week, a month ahead of schedule. The UK MOD will now begin the task of readying them for service with the British Army.

This consignment of 5 Cougars is only the first of an order for 157 placed by the UK MOD as part of it's programme to improve the protection of its infantry when on patrol in Afghanistan.

Supplied by the American company Force Protection Inc., the Cougars will be further hardened, armed and have additional electronic and communications equipment fitted and will emerge as the Ridgback protected vehicle ready for use with it's bigger brother the Mastiff which has already entered service.

Easy ramp offload

Although deployment of military vehicles by air into trouble spots is commonplace when the cost is justified by the urgency, use of An-124-100 to transport vehicles during the manufacture and preparation phase is unusual. The expenditure in this case illustrates the urgency of the need to improve force protection of British forces as quickly as possible.