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Canadian Forces Armoured Vehicles  –  Route Opening  –  November 2008 Force Protection  –  Orders for an Additional 48  EROC Vehicles: Blast-Resistant Buffalo and Cougars  –  Industry News Release South Carolina-based  Force Protection Inc. has issued a  news release announcing that the Canadian government has placed follow on orders for additional  FPI  blast-resistant vehicles. This is an add-on  to the purchase in 2007 from Force Protection of  ten  EROC Expedient Route-Opening Capability trucks. That initial EROC order was for five each of  FPI's  specialized  Buffalo route-clearance vehicles and Cougar transports to accompany the demining vehicles (the third EROC type being the South African-built  RSD/ DCD-Dorbyl  Husky  mine-detecting vehicle). The follow-on order is for a total of 14  Buffalo A2s  and   34  Cougars. The order is actually a modification of  contract M67854-07-C-5039, the same  Marine Corps Systems Com- mand Foreign Military Sales notice used for the first DND purchase of FPI vehicles. At the time of writing, neither MERX  nor the Defense Security Cooperation Agency have published  notices. The text of  the 17 November 2008  News Release from Force Protection, Inc. is below. Canadian Forces to Receive Additional Force Protection Vehicles Publisher: Force Protection, Inc. Date: 11/17/2008 Ladson, SC (November 17, 2008)  –  Force Protection, Inc. today announced that it has received a modification  under contract M67854-07-C-5039 for the delivery of  14 of  its Buffalo A2  route-clearance vehicles  and  34  of  its  Cougar vehicles  to the Canadian Government. The undefinitized contract  [ ie: a contract  awarded before final terms are set]  modification carries a dollar value not  to exceed  $49.4 million and  includes vehi- cles,  spare parts,  and  field  support.  The vehicles are scheduled  for delivery in 2009. This represents the second order for Force Protection vehicles by the Canadian Gover- nment.  In 2007,  Force Protection delivered  five Buffalo and  five Cougar vehicles for the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command. Michael Moody, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Force Protection, [said] "Our NATO allies continue to face threats from roadside bombs, landmines and  many other types of improvised explosive devices. We are delighted that the Canadian military will be receiving  this  life saving equipment  for use in  supporting  their operations  in  the global war on terror. This order further solidifies our belief that the Cougar and Buffalo are proving  to be  the most  survivable, sustainable  vehicles on the battlefield. We are very pleased that  the Canadian government has chosen to procure additional vehicles from Force Protection." About Force Protection, Inc. Force Protection, Inc.  is a leading  American designer, developer and manufacturer of life saving survivability solutions, predominantly ballistic and blast-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the US military and  allies to support  armed forces and security personnel  in conflict  zones.  The Company's specialty vehicles,  the Cougar, the Buffalo, and  the [smaller] Cheetah, are designed  specifically  for  reconnaissance, forward command  and  control, and  urban operations and  to protect  their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and  improvised explosive devices (IEDs, commonly refer- red to as roadside bombs ).  The Company also is  the developer and  manufacturer of ForceArmor™,  an  armor package  providing  superior  protection against explosively formed projectiles (EFPs)  now available for a wide range of  tactical-wheeled  vehicles. The Company is one of  the original developers and primary providers of  vehicles  for the US military's  Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected, or  MRAP, vehicle program.  For more information on  Force Protection and  its vehicles, visit  www.forceprotection.net.