Wire Applications in Military Vehicles: H Model Cougar MRA

Applications for custom wires and cables generally fall into one of several categories, one of which being mechanical requirements for military vehicles and equipment. Military wires and cables provide electrical power, communications, and a host of other functions within a given piece of hardware.

As combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq (Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom) intensified, there was a growing need for a series of vehicles designed to survive the explosive threats posed by the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as well as conventional mining and ambush tactics employed against Coalition personnel. These vehicles were collectively described as MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) capable, and would be specifically built to defeat these threats. One such vehicle is the Cougar. Manufactured by Force Protection Inc. employing advanced flexible wire technology, the Cougar has been in production, and in service for the past seven years.

Vehicles such as the Cougar are not new designs. While new to the US military, the Cougar design can trace its origins to the Olifant Manufacturing Company of South Africa, which originally developed the multi-wheeled, "V" shaped blast hull design for use by the South African military in its operations against Angola and Namibia in the 1980s. These vehicles were designed to have good road speeds and endurance (to allow for the long distances traveled, as well as reduced maintenance requirements because of their wheeled design) and were specifically designed with advanced silicone wires and armor technologies to maximize passenger survivability against small arms ambushes and conventionally laid mines and IEDs.

The Cougar MRAP H model is a 19.4 feet long, 9 feet wide (spare tires mounted), 8.6 feet tall (not including turret splash shield.) 3-door, diesel powered, 3-ton capacity 4-wheel drive Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. The Cougar-H is The Cougar is equipped with an automatic transmission and in addition to the driver and co-driver, has seating for 4 additional passengers. Each seat is equipped with a 4-point ribbon cable shielded pur safety harness. The vehicle is equipped with driver/co-driver doors, as well as double doors for the passenger compartment, and a single vehicle accessibility hatch on the roof. The Cougar is equipped with dual A/C units (24,000/48,000 BTU/hour), is NBC overpressure and filter protected, and is equipped with a 9,000-pound capacity electrically powered winch. The unprepared fording depth is 39 inches, an approach angle of 40 degrees and a departure angle of 50 degrees. The Cougar is capable of travel both on and off road and is equipped with run-flat tire inserts. The Cougar-H is air transportable by the C-17 transport aircraft.