The Buffalo is a wheeled mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored military vehicle built by Force Protection, Inc., a division of General Dynamics. It is the largest vehicle in Force Protection’s line-up, followed by the Cougar MRAP and the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV). The Buffalo vehicle was designed based on the successful South African Casspir mine-protected vehicle. The Buffalo was designed with six wheels and is also fitted with a large articulated arm, used for ordnance disposal. It was also created with a V-shaped monohull chassis that directs the force of the blast away from the occupants.
The Buffalo is also now equipped with BAE Systems’ LROD cage armor for additional protection against RPG-7 anti-tank rounds. Glass armor is sufficient at 6 inches thickness. Run-flat tires are mounted on all six wheels. The Buffalo combines ballistic and blast protection with infrared technology to detect the presence of dangerous ordnance and a robotic arm to disable the explosive ordnance. In 2004, the United States had a limited number of Buffaloes in service. Nearly four years later, the 200th Buffalo was delivered to the U.S. Military by Force Protection.
The display Buffalo is an A2 variant, first produced in 2009. The major changes are in the Axle Tech rear axles, Cat C13 engine, Cat CX31 transmission, and suspension, along with additional upgrades to the HVAC system, hood, and front bumper. The easiest way to identify an A1 version from the A2 version is that the front bumper of the A2 has a larger profile. The last Buffalo A2 MRAP, truck 795, was completed in June 2014. Force Protection was acquired by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in 2011.
