Army tests Ocelot armoured vehicle

... but you can't buy one. The Ocelot light armoured vehicle, one of three shortlisted vehicles for the Defence Forces, had its first Australian test run yesterday (NOV 12) ahead of the multi-million-dollar Land Warfare Conference at the Brisbane Convention Centre next week. (NOV 15-19)

Designed and built by military suppliers Force Protection and Formula One-experienced Ricardo Engineering in the UK, the Ocelot features a steel spine chassis that protect the occupants, engine and drivetrain from mine explosions.

Force Protection spokesman Max Pengelley says California Governor Arnie Schwarzenegger, who bought a military Humvee and spawned the Hummer civilian range, hasn't asked for one ... yet.

"I doubt we will make a civilian version, but we have had requests for an amphibian version," he said yesterday at the Scenic Rim Adventure Park near Beaudesert where the vehicle went through its off-road paces.

Company boss, ex-Marine chopper pilot and First Gulf War veteran Jim Cooney describes it as "a cutting-edge, next-generation protective vehicle" that will "saves heroes' lives".

"If you get this in a tough combat area troops are going to survive and come back alive," he said.

The ocelot is named after a small South American cat because it is smaller and lighter than other military patrol vehicles such as the Australian Army's Bushmaster.

The gung-ho former Colonel says the vehicle has been designed specifically with Afghanistan in mind with narrow dimensions and a "light" weight of 5.5 tonne that will cross the country's rickety bridges and can be lifted by a chopper.

Its V-shaped hull will also withstand and deflects direct mine blasts, but don't ask for any specifics about its construction.

"That's classified information," says Pengelley.

What we can tell you is it has a six-speed Falcon gearbox, ballistic-proof run-flat tyres, four-wheel drive with adjustable transfer box, two differentials and a 200kW six-cylinder Steyr turbodiesel engine from Austria that will run on just about any fuel including kerosene, bio-diesel and JP8 jet fighter fuel.

Top speed can be varied according to the ratios selected in the totally adjustable transfer case, differentials and wheel hubs.

It also has four ballistic-protected passenger pods that can quickly convert the vehicle from a six-person carrier to an open-top vehicle, utility and a command vehicle packed with communications equipment.

So how does it drive?

IT is enough to make any peace-loving hippy want to join the Army just to drive one.

The Ocelot is easy to drive with its light steering and automatic gearbox and its two-tonne payload would make it the perfect vehicle for the weekly grocery shopping trip.

Don't worry about a parking space, just park it on top of another car.

A short test drive around the Scenic Rim Adventure Park yesterday revealed a vehicle that packs a macho whollop.

It grunts and puffs with all the quiet grace of a Massey Ferguson tractor.

Yet it tip-toes over boulders and through gullies with graceful ease thanks to its long-travel independent suspension.

Although there is no airconditioning in the pre-production model, it will be supplied in the final version to keep the troops and hi-tech communications gear comfortable.

It would also score a full five stars in a crash test, but would have to be marked down on safety for its lack of rear vision.

Ocelot Tech Specs

Price: classified
Engine: 6-cylinder Steyr turbodiesel
Power: 200kW
Kerb weight: 5500kg
Economy: classified
CO2: classified
Range: 600km
Fuel tank: 245 litres
Dimensions: 5.4m (length), 2.1m (width), 2.35m (height), 3.65m (wheelbase)