Buffalo Mine Protected Route Clearance Vehicle

Manufacturer: Force Protection Industries

Service: US Army, USMC

Engine: Mack ASET AI-400

Speed: 65 mph

Range: 300 miles

Suspension: 6x6

Armament: one rooftop gun mount

The Buffalo MPRC is a single-door, diesel driven, 19-ton capacity 6-wheel drive Mine Protected Route Clearing vehicle. The Buffalo is 26.9 feet long, 8 feet wide, and is 9.75 feet tall (not including turret splash shields.) The Buffalo is equipped with an automatic transmission and in addition to the driver and co-driver, has seating for 12 additional passengers. Each seat is equipped with a 4-point safety harness. The vehicle is equipped with a single aft mounted access door, as well as six roof-mounted hatches in the passenger compartment.

The Buffalo is equipped with dual air conditioner units (24,000/44,000 BTU/hour), is NBC overpressure and filter protected, and, unlike the Cougar, is not equipped with a winch. The Buffalo has an unprepared fording depth of 40 inches, an approach angle of 40 degrees and a departure angle of 45 degrees. The Buffalo is capable of travel both on and off road and is equipped with run-flat tire inserts. The Buffalo is air transportable by the C-17.

The armor package provided by the Buffalo provides all round coverage against 7.62mm ammunition (the glass is 7.62mm multi-strike resistant.) Ballistic protection is provided for the radiator, tires, battery compartment, fuel tanks, engine and transmission. The V-shaped hull is specifically designed to redirect the blast out and away from the vehicle's passenger area. While the explosion may disable the vehicle, its passengers will not be injured, and the vehicle can be recovered and repaired.

The Buffalo is equipped with a hydraulically-powered articulated "claw" operated remotely from within the vehicle, which can be used to dig, extract, and remove objects in the soil without exposing the vehicle’s crew.