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In a recent parade, the Mexican Army revealed its replacement for aging Humvees: the Ocelot. With an initial rollout of 340 of these armored vehicles, the North American nation is looking to modernize its military.
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For many, the Ocelot is an unfamiliar military vehicle. Some might already know it as the Foxhound as it’s called by British armed forces, made by General Dynamics Land Systems in the UK, although Mexico purchased its units from Force Protection. For international markets it’s called the Ocelot.
According to the company, this light infantry transport has a curb weight of 6.9 tons and can handle a payload of up to 2 tons. Being hefty and with gearing made more for off-road traversing, it hits a top speed of 70 mph.
Under the hood is a six-cylinder diesel engine made by Steyr, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Driving range is a claimed 500 km.
The turning circle on an Ocelot is 12 meters, which is surprisingly tight. Keep in mind the vehicle features rear steering, enabling great maneuverability, something which can literally mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield.
Recent wars in the Middle East exposed a deficiency in the Humvee when it came to roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices. That has given birth to a new generation of light transports which are designed to survive such blasts, the Ocelot being one of them.
It has a V-shaped “spine” housing the powertrain and drivetrain as well as occupants, designed to deflect explosive forces away, protecting troops and hopefully leaving the vehicle able to continue operating.
Like many modern military land vehicles, the Ocelot is modular in its design. That means it can be had with various upfits. That means some might be more of a supply transport, others used as ambulance, etc.
The Ocelot isn’t exactly new, with Foxhounds having served in the British military for well over a decade at this point. Still, the design is quite relevant, which must be why Mexico has decided to start integrating it into its armored units.
Image via México Aeroespacial y Defensa/YouTube
