Ocelot - better never than late

"The Ocelot, a British built vehicle that can be rebuilt in a matter of hours, will replace the highly criticised Snatch Land Rover", reports the Telegraph. For "highly criticised" read death-trap that should have been replaced seven years ago, and that's about right.

The new patrol vehicle could save scores of lives with a specially designed V-shape hull and a highly manoeuvrable off-road capability. It has been ordered by the Ministry of Defence, as part of an expected £200 million, 200 light protected patrol vehicle [LPPV] package, that will provide a major boost for the economy securing 750 British jobs. It could also lead to big export deals with both Australia and America said to be keen on buying it.

For God's sake. The primary purpose of military equipment is not to provide jobs. In this case, the timely introduction of a properly protected vehicle would have saved 37 lives and many more amputations.

The Ocelot appears to be a good bit of kit, unlike the designed for other climatic conditions Viking and the insane open-plan Jackal patrol vehicle, which places the crew right over the front wheels. However the Ocelot will only start to be available in useful quantity by the time the British pull out of Afghanistan.

Then what? Well, the Army paid £4.5 million for 14 LPPV Mambas, used them in Bosnia and then sold them for £44,000 each to, among others, Blackwater Security, which used them to ferry VIPs between Baghdad airport and the Green Zone.

Meanwhile British troops pootled about in Snatch Land Rovers, which offered no protection against mines or even small-arms fire. What price in wasted lives and money for the latest "boost for the economy"?