The Foxhound is at the cutting edge of protected patrol vehicle technology and provides unprecedented levels of blast protection for its size and weight. These patrol vehicles underwent final testing in the dusty and hot conditions of the Helmand desert before being deployed on operations.

Foxhound has been specifically designed and built in Britain to protect against the threats faced by troops in Afghanistan. However, this is an agile and versatile vehicle that will be a mainstay in the Army for years to come.

Being lighter and smaller than other protected vehicles such as Mastiff and Ridgeback, Foxhound brings a whole new capability to the Army and is ideal for soldiers operating in mentoring and partnering roles.

Foxhound has a top speed of 70 mph but can still protect against improvised explosive devices thanks to its v-shaped hull.

Husky is a protected support vehicle, providing a highly mobile and flexible load carrying vehicle.

The Husky has been designed for a range of missions, including transporting food, water and ammunition, and acting as a command vehicle at headquarters.

Equipped with a machine gun, Husky joins its sister vehicles Wolfhound and Coyote as part of the tactical support vehicle programme. Some vehicles are fitted out as specialised recovery vehicles or fitted with a heavy machine gun or grenade machine gun.

Mastiff is a heavily armoured, 6 x six-wheel-drive patrol vehicle which carries eight troops, plus two crew. It is currently on its third variation.

It is suitable for road patrols and convoys and is the newest in a range of protected patrol vehicles being used for operations.

Mastiff has a maximum speed of 90kph, is armed with the latest weapon systems, including a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

These wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.

They have Bowman radios and electronic countermeasures and are fitted with additional armour beyond the standard level to ensure they have the best possible protection.

Improvements on the Mastiff include:

• Bigger axles and up-rated suspension
• Increased crew capacity 2 + 8 as opposed to 2 + 6
• Increased CES/stowage locations
• Blast attenuating seats
• Fold up seats allowing easier stowage if the vehicle is not full of crew
• New situational awareness system incorporating a thermal imager for the driver

The vehicles are based on the US Cougar 6x6 manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems – Force Protection, with UK integration work carried out by NP Aerospace (now Morgan Advanced Materials – Composites and Defence Systems).

Weighing 7-tonnes, the Panther is air transportable and can be underslung beneath a Chinook helicopter. It is armed with a 7.62mm L7 general purpose machine gun, which can be upgraded to a 12.7mm/cal weapon if required, plus an appropriate day or night sighting system.

Panther is in widespread use with various commanders, sergeant majors, and liaison officers for armoured, armoured recce and armoured infantry units.

This protected patrol vehicle is also used as the commander's vehicle for engineer troops, anti-tank, mortar and supporting fire platoons.

The Wolfhound is a six-wheeled variant of the acclaimed Mastiff, which provides troops with increased protection as they support missions in high-threat areas.

This heavy-armoured truck is part of the Tactical Support Vehicles (TSV) group along with the Husky and the Coyote. The TSV fleet is used to accompany front line patrols and carry essential combat supplies such as water and ammunition.

It provides a highly protected load-carrying vehicle to carry out a variety of tasks such as moving bulky stores for use in the construction of forward bases and also as a gun tractor and gun limber for the Royal Artillery's 105 light gun.

Wolfhound is armed with a 7.62 GPMG self-defence weapon and the normal fit of radio and electronic equipment.

Ridgback is a 4x4-wheel drive protected patrol vehicle based on the US Cougar platform. It also shares a high degree of commonality with Mastiff, its big brother. Ridgback first deployed on operations in the summer of 2009 and provides protected mobility in urban and urban-fringe environments.

Ridgback comes in three variants: battlefield ambulance, command variant and troop carrying vehicles. Ridgback troop carrying vehicles are equipped with either a protected weapon station or a remote weapon station, and can mount a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Ridgback is fitted with BOWMAN communications equipment and force protection counter measures equipment.

In the summer of 2013, the Army decided to bring Ridgback into the core equipment programme for use in the Army 2020 force structure within the infantry and cavalry units. The Ridgback fleet is being reconditioned after its service in Afghanistan and some are being converted from one variant to another to meet their new roles supporting the Army 2020 transformation and on future contingent operations.

RWMIK (Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit) is a lightly-armoured, highly-mobile fire support and force protection Land Rover. It is manned by a crew of three, commander, driver and gunner, and it can carry a range of weapons including; the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) and Grenade Machine Gun (GMG).

The RWMIK's manoeuverability, firepower and relatively low profile make it suitable for a range of roles including reconnaissance, convoy escort and fire support.

The RWMIK has the capacity to support itself and its crew over 800km.