DCD Dorbyl division RSD has for the first time brought a high mobility armoured vehicles vehicle to market, teaming with Critical Solutions International of Texas to field the Mountain Lion family
of vehicles.
This spans the weight, protection and performance range from Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, the two companies said in a joint statement. The new design was launched earlier this month at the NDIA Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Florida in the US. On exhibit was the first prototype, an eight-seat medium-weight class vehicle.
“All Mountain Lion variants will combine and improve upon generations of combat-proven designs from our VMMD Husky currently deployed with US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq,” said CSI President, Shon Craig. “The end result is a mobile, protective and versatile next-generation line of vehicles capable of operating in mountainous and rough terrain.”
The family reportedly features increased mobility over other, similar,vehicles, has permanent 4-wheel steering that creates a turning circle of 40ft and boasts fully independent suspension with a 16″ ground clearance. In addition, it has a one piece (monocoque) v-shaped armoured hull for crew and critical sub-systems and multiple seating configurations for up to 12 occupants. Armour is tailored to customer requirements, while maximum use was made of commercial components to enhance maintainability and supportability. The vehicle was designed to enable the option of a diesel-electric hybrid drive train.
RSD has to date mainly been associated with the Chubby mine detection and route clearance system. The vehicle was originally developed for, and deployed by, the South African Army to clear military convoy routes of anti-vehicle mines in northern Namibia and southern Angola in the early 1980s. The system has since been acquired and is in service in Uganda, France, Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, which has donated two of its systems to the mine-clearing HALO Trust charity.
