U.S. Marines Order More Armored Vehicles From Force Protection Industries, Inc.

Publisher: Force Protection, Inc.
Date: 03/08/2005

Ladson, S.C. - Force Protection Industries, Inc. (OTCBB:FRPT – News) today announced that the United States Marine Corps Systems Command has ordered additional Cougar vehicles, including the 4x4 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) transport and the recently-released 6x6 combat engineer and troop carrier vehicles. The total value of the follow-on order is estimated at more than $5 million.

“The vehicles produced by Force Protection continue to prove themselves under the most demanding conditions,” said R. Scott Ervin, Force Protection’s Chief Executive Officer. “Using our vehicles, U.S. forces have successfully cleared explosive devices from almost 40,000 kilometers of dangerous road. These additional Cougars will be used to increase road-clearing capacity and to protect our troops under transport.”

The Cougar series is one of two classes of blast-protected vehicles produced by the Ladson, S.C.-based manufacturer. It is a family of medium-size, blast-protected vehicles that can be customized for multiple tasks including troop transport, mine and explosive ordinance disposal, command and control, reconnaissance and as a lead convoy vehicle. The Cougar Hardened Engineer Vehicle (HEV), recently described in the Marine Corps News as a “28,550 pound hulk of a vehicle, wrapped in steel armor and ballistic glass,” is being used by the Marines 31st Expeditionary Unit in Iraq.

“The Cougar EOD vehicles were first delivered to Marine Expeditionary Forces last October to provide protection in highly dangerous activities such as detection and removal of explosive devices used by terrorists,” said Vice President Michael Aldrich. “We are honored to provide this American-made solution and complete this initial order in support of the Marines and Coalition forces.”

Force Protection also manufactures the Buffalo, a mine clearance vehicle recently featured in the Los Angeles Times. The Buffalo is part of the Pentagon’s hunter-killer team strategy. It incorporates blast protection technology with automotive components made by such companies as Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), Allison Transmission, a division a division of General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Mack Trucks, Inc., a division of Volvo Group (Nasdaq:VOLVY).

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About Force Protection, Inc.

Force Protection, Inc. manufactures ballistic and mine protected vehicles through its wholly owned subsidiary. These specialty vehicles are protected against landmines, hostile fire, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Force Protection's mine and ballistic protection technology is among the most advanced in the world. The vehicles are manufactured outside Charleston, S.C.

For more information, visit http://www.forceprotectioninc.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning our business, future plans and objectives and the performance of our products. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties ultimately may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications may arise that could prevent the prompt implementation of the strategic plan outlined above. The company cautions that these forward looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Form 10-KSB filing and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (available at http://www.sec.gov). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Contact:
Policy Impact Strategic Communications
Jeff Child, 202-737-5339 (Media Contact)
jchild@policyimpact.com
or
Force Protection, Inc.
Investor Relations, 843-740-7015, Ext 233
investorrelations@forceprotectioninc.com

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Source: Force Protection, Inc.