Foxhound LPPVs arrive in Afghanistan

18 June 2012

The first of the army's Foxhound Light Protected Patrol Vehicles (LPPVs) has arrived in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.

Some 200 Foxhound vehicles were ordered as a £180m Urgent Operational Requirement in November 2010, and the first of these, which have been sent to Afghanistan on a Royal Air Force C-17, are undergoing final testing in the country before their first deployments later this year.

Last December the MoD announced that it intended to order a further 100 of the vehicles, and confirmed that the £90m contract would take the UK's total Foxhound fleet up to 300 vehicles in coming years.

The vehicles, which will replace Snatch Land Rovers in theatre, feature a v-shaped hull to deflect the energy from blasts underneath the vehicle and can also be driven with just three intact wheels. Foxhound has a top speed of around 70mph.

"Foxhound's arrival in Afghanistan is great news for our soldiers," said Defence Secretary Philip Hammond. "This government has spent £270m on 300 of these hi-tech, British-built vehicles to help keep our troops properly protected. Our servicemen and women deserve the best protection we can get them."

Chief of the General Staff General Sir Peter Wall said: "Foxhound gives the British Army the very latest level of protection on operations. This has been a well-run programme that will play a key role in equipping the army of 2020."