Force Protection Announces Sale of Two Ocelot Vehicles to United Kingdom Ministry of Defence

LADSON, S.C.--Force Protection, Inc. , a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, today announced that Force Protection Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Force Protection Industries, Inc., received a contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the purchase of two Ocelot vehicles for further testing in respect of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) program.

“We are very pleased with how our own testing and development schedule has been progressing. Ocelot has been performing well in tests since the middle of last year and has demonstrated that it offers unprecedented levels of survivability and maneuverability for a vehicle of this size and weight.”

Ocelot has been designed by Force Protection Europe and Ricardo, plc, a UK based automotive engineering company.

David Hind, Managing Director of Force Protection Europe, said: “We are very pleased with how our own testing and development schedule has been progressing. Ocelot has been performing well in tests since the middle of last year and has demonstrated that it offers unprecedented levels of survivability and maneuverability for a vehicle of this size and weight.�??

Graeme Rumbol, Global Vehicle Product Group Director for Ricardo plc, added: “The MoD has already completed a number of their own tests on two of our vehicles so we’re delighted that they are now investing in these vehicles so that they can carry out further trials. Ocelot is building upon our existing long-standing relationship with the UK MoD which has most recently seen Ricardo carrying out extensive fleet upgrades to create the new RWMIK Plus standard of WMIK vehicle.�??

Ocelot has the flexibility to perform a range of roles including patrol, fire support and protected logistics. Innovative features include role-specific pods which can be fitted quickly to the core automotive armored V-shaped hull in the field. The armored hull houses the main fuel tank, drive line, batteries and generator as well as the power pack, which includes the engine, gearbox, auxiliary fuel tank and associated ECUs (electronic control units). The vehicle has been designed from the outset to be easily repaired and maintainable in the austere environment of a forward operating base. Commercial off the shelf (COTS) components have been used to ensure maximum availability of spares worldwide.

Ocelot is equally suited to operations in desert, jungle, mountainous or urban environments and meets the needs of military and internal security forces around the world.

The excellence of Force Protection’s survivability technologies are amply demonstrated by the performance of the company’s Mastiff and Ridgback Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The Cougar vehicles upon which they are based are recognized around the world as offering the highest levels of survivability. Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to the world's transportation and clean energy sectors. Ricardo’s highly successful defense vehicle engineering operations in both the UK and North America are based upon the company's thorough understanding of vehicle operational requirements and access to the very latest in automotive technology.

About Force Protection, Inc.

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). The Company also develops, manufactures, tests, delivers and supports products and services aimed at further enhancing the survivability of users against additional threats. In addition, the Company provides long-term life cycle support services of its vehicles that involve development of technical data packages, supply of spares, field and depot maintenance activities, assignment of highly-skilled field service representatives, and advanced on and off-road driver and maintenance training programs. For more information on Force Protection and its products and services, visit www.forceprotection.net.

Ricardo plc: With technical centres and offices in the UK, USA, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India and Korea, Ricardo is a leading independent technology provider and strategic consultant to the world's transportation sector and clean energy industries. The company's engineering expertise ranges from vehicle systems integration, controls, electronics and software development, to the latest driveline and transmission systems and gasoline, diesel, hybrid and fuel cell powertrain technologies, as well as wind energy and tidal power systems. Ricardo is committed to excellence and industry leadership in people, technology and knowledge; approximately 70 percent of its employees are highly qualified multi-disciplined professional engineers and technicians. A public company, Ricardo plc posted sales of £178.8 million in financial year 2009 and is a constituent of the FTSE techMark 100 index - a group of innovative technology companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.ricardo.com.

Force Protection, Inc. Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations. These statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of Force Protection’s management, and on information currently available to management. These forward looking statements include, among other things: the growth and demand for Force Protection’s products and services, including its modernization, spares and sustainment business; the anticipated work completion dates for our products and services; the anticipated long-term demand for service, support and upgrade work to the Company’s fleet of vehicles; the Company’s execution of its business strategy and strategic transformation, including its opportunities to grow the business; and the Company’s expected financial and operating results, including its revenues, cash flow and gross margins, for future periods. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Examples of these factors include, but are not limited to, ability to effectively manage the risks in the Company’s business; the ability to develop new technologies and products and the acceptance of these technologies and products; the ability to obtain new orders for its vehicles and products; the other risk factors and cautionary statements listed in the Company’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.