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Route-Clearing Vehicle Purchase  –  DND/CF News Release  –  07 May 2006 Dep't of National Defence / Canadian Forces  News Release New  Route-Opening Vehicles:  Cougar,  Buffalo, and  Husky The Department of  National Defence and  the Canadian Forces announce the EROC ( Expedient Route-Opening Capability) consisting of  three  new vehicle  types:  the South African Husky mine detector vehicle, and two US types, the Buffalo and Cougar mine-protected vehicles. All three types are to be purchased through the United States military  –  the six Huskys through the US Army, and the five Cougar EOD team transports and  the five Buffalo Mine Protected Clearance Vehicles through the US Marine Corps (the actual order being placed by the US Navy). Deliveries are to begin in August 2007 (with direct deployment to Afghanistan)  and  run until 2008. The content of the DND/CF News Release is reproduced directly below.  Beneath that is the original news release published by Force Protection, Inc., 01 May 2007. DND/Canadian Forces News Release New Vehicles to Enhance Protection Against Improvised Explosive Devices NR–07.034 - May 7, 2007 OTTAWA The importance of  keeping Canada' troops safe when engaged in deployed operations was underlined today with the announcement of a new detection and route clearing system for the Canadian Forces  ( CF ).  The Honourable  Gordon O'Connor, Minister of  National Defence, and  General  Rick Hillier,  Chief of  the Defence Staff, today announced the acquisition of new vehicle-based systems for detecting,  investigating  and  disposing of  explosive threats  such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines. "Providing Canadian soldiers with the protection they need is of the utmost importance. That is why this government is making sure that they have a capability to detect, investigate and dispose of IEDs, thus improving safety for our  vehicle crews,"  said  Minister O'Connor.  "Acquiring  these  proven systems will ensure that this urgent operational requirement is met." "Buried IEDs have become the weapon of choice [used] against CF forces in Afghanistan. These new vehicle systems will give commanders highly effect- ive tools that they can use to find and neutralize those IEDs that pose threats to our soldiers,"  said  General  Hillier. "They will not only improve protection for  the soldiers and vehicles  using the cleared  routes,  they will also provide high levels of protection to the clearing crews themselves. These systems will perfectly  compliment  the outstanding service of  the  RG-31 Nyala  armoured infantry patrol vehicle." The Expedient Route Opening Capability ( EROC ) systems will conduct  mounted searches  for  buried  improvised  explosive  devices  using  three  types of  highly specialized  vehicles: the Husky, the Buffalo and  the Cougar. The systems will be acquired  through  the United States military;  use in operations have proven how highly successful  these EROC systems are. Canada intends to obtain a total of 16 vehicles, including six Husky, five Buffalo, and five Cougar 6x6 vehicles. The Husky provides the detection capability,  with a landmine overpass capability and a mounted  full-width metal detector enabling the detection of  targets located in the roadbed or  along the verges.  Once a target  has been detected,  the Buffalo will  use its extendable  arm and  remote controlled camera to physically expose the potential  target  for verification and  identification.  The Cougar will  transport the Explosive  Ordnance  Disposal  Operators and  their  vast array of  tools, including Explosive  Ordnance  Disposal  robots, to dispose of  the IED. Task Force Afghanistan, until recently, was supported  by the US military's Route Clearance Package;  however, with the transition to [ISAF] the International Secu- rity Assistance Force,  the  US assets have been redeployed ...  Their proven track record and  unique  performance  is  not  currently  available anywhere else  in  the world, and Canada has chosen to move quickly to meet the needs of the Canadian Forces by working with our American ally to procure the vehicles. Initial deliveries directly to Afghanistan will begin in August 2007, with final deliv- ery anticipated  late in the year.  The acquisition of  the vehicles,  along  with  two years of  integrated  logistics support,  training and  field service support will cost approximately  $29.6  million. The Buffalo and Cougar vehicles will  be provided  by  the  US  Marine Corps and are built by Force Protection Industries of Ladson, South Carolina. The Husky will be acquired  through the US Army and is manufactured in South Africa by Rolling Stock Division [RSD] of DCD-Dorbyl [ located in Boksburg SA, south of Pretoria]. Force Protection Industries to Deliver Armored Vehicles to Canadian Forces Publisher: Force Protection, Inc. Date: 05/01/2007 LADSON, S.C. – Force Protection, Inc. today announced it has received an $8.867 million [ 8.867 USD = 9.77M CAD] contract award to produce Buffalo and Cougar mine-protected vehicles  for the  Canadian  Expeditionary  Force  Command  (CEF- COM ).  [The United States]  Marine Corps  Systems Command will administer the contract under a foreign military sales agreement (FMS)  [ as yet unpublished ]. The order, which marks the first contract between Canada and the South Carolina- based  manufacturer, calls for five Buffalo and  five Cougar vehicles,  spare parts, training,  and  field  service  representatives. Vehicle  deliveries  are  scheduled  to begin no later than August  2007  [ and continue through to May of  2008 ]. "We are pleased to be recognized  once again  as a world leader  in blast and ballistic protection  that  effectively counters  the global threats of  insurgent ambushes and  improvised  explosive devices,"  said  Force  Protection  Vice President for Program Management Damon Walsh. "This initial, urgent order will go directly to  CEFCOM  for immediate deployment.  Based  on  past per- formance, we know it will save Canadian lives." Force Protection's  armored vehicles  have been deployed in support of  U.S. and Allied engineers, explosive ordnance disposal teams and other first response units in  Iraq  and  Afghanistan since 2003.  They  have  an unmatched record  for  troop safety, having withstood in excess of  2,000 explosive attacks in more than 100,000 days of heavy combat operations. About Force Protection Industries Force Protection, Inc. manufactures ballistic- and mine-protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary.  These specialty vehicles protect against  landmines, hostile fire,  and  Improvised  Explosive  Devices  ( IEDs, commonly  referred  to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technologies are among  the most advanced  in  the world.  The vehicles  are  manufactured outside Charleston, S.C. For more information on Force Protection and its vehicles, visit www.forceprotection.net. This press release may contain forward-looking statements ...