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During a recent parade, the Mexican military unveiled its replacement for the aging Humvees: the Ocelot. The North American country wants to modernize its army with an initial rollout of 340 of these armored vehicles.
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For many, the Ocelot is an unknown military vehicle. Some may already know it as the Foxhound as it is called by the British Armed Forces, made by General Dynamics Land Systems in Britain, although Mexico bought its units from Force Protection. For international markets it is called the Ocelot.
According to the company, this light infantry transport has an empty weight of 6.9 tons and can handle a payload of up to 2 tons. Because it is large and has a gear more suitable for off-road driving, it reaches a top speed of 120 km/h.
Under the hood is a six-cylinder diesel engine from Steyr, linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. The range is estimated at 500 km.
The turning circle of an Ocelot is 12 meters, which is surprisingly tight. Please note that the vehicle has rear steering, which allows great maneuverability, something that can literally mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.
Recent wars in the Middle East have exposed a shortcoming of the Humvee when it comes to roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. That has led to a new generation of light transport vehicles designed to survive such explosions, of which the Ocelot is one.
It has a V-shaped ‘spine’ that houses the powertrain, powertrain and occupants, designed to ward off explosive forces, protect troops and hopefully allow the vehicle to keep moving.
Like many modern military land vehicles, the Ocelot is modular in design. That means it is available with different equipment. That means some are more of a supply transport, others are used as ambulances, etc.
The Ocelot isn’t exactly new: Foxhounds have served in the British Army for over a decade at this point. Still, the design is quite relevant, and that must be why Mexico has decided to integrate it into its armored units.
Image via México Aeroespacial y Defensa/YouTube
