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Rumsfeld Inspects Mine Clearance Vehicle Built by Force Protection, Inc.
Publisher: Force Protection, Inc.
Date: 04/18/2005

Armor vehicle manufacturers Buffalo vehicle used to remove IEDS, save lives in Iraq

Ladson, S.C. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld met with the U.S. Army's 612th Engineer Battalion in Iraq Wednesday (4/12) to inspect the Buffalo mine clearance vehicle manufactured by Force Protection Industries, Inc. (OTCBB:FRPT ' News), a publicly traded company headquartered in Ladson, SC.

Rumsfeld was briefed on the mine- and blast-protected vehicle used by the Army to detect and remove explosive threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), land mines and roadside bombs. As of Rumsfeld's visit, the 612th Engineer Battalion had used the Buffalo to identify 75 IEDs, including a vehicle-concealed device, during the three months it has been deployed in Baghdad.

One of the battalion's platoon leaders, Army 2nd Lieutenant David Swisher, told the American Forces Press Service the Buffalo vehicles have been hit by a variety of weapons including small-arms fire, grenades, artillery shells and "no one inside the Buffalo has ever been hurt."

"We are extremely pleased that Secretary Rumsfeld was able to inspect the Buffalo in active operations," said Force Protection Industries President, Ted McQuinn. "Our vehicles are built with the specific purpose of protecting our troops and enabling them to remove the threat of IEDs and land mines. They fill a critical need in the war, and we will continue to do everything necessary to ensure the availability of this life-saving equipment."

Because approximately ten percent of IEDs explode during inspection, the protection of the heavily armored Buffalo is credited with saving lives in the face of explosions at close range.

Col. Jim Brooks, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division's Maneuver-Enhancement Brigade, said soldiers are "extremely confident" in the protection the Buffalo provides. "The bottom line is they want to ride in this," he added.

For more information on Rumsfeld's inspection of the Buffalo, please visit http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2005/20050415_621.html.

Force Protection, located in the Charleston, SC area, has become the center for blast technology and counter IED research on the East Coast. In addition to its Buffalo mine clearance series, it produces Cougar troop transport vehicles. All vehicles built by Force Protection incorporate state-of-the-art blast protection technology with American commercial off-the shelf automotive components to ensure the strength necessary to withstand mine and ballistic attacks and the mobility to enable soldiers to accomplish their missions.

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About Force Protection, Inc.

Force Protection, Inc. manufactures ballistic and mine protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary. These specialty vehicles are protected against landmines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technology is among the most advanced in the world. The vehicles are manufactured outside Charleston, S.C.

For more information, visit http://www.forceprotectioninc.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the strategic plan outlined above. The company cautions that these forward looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Form 10-KSB filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Posted: Mon - April 18, 2005 at 02:18 AM          

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