Manny Otero

What's Behind Force Protection's Significant Share Price Drop?

Dear Readers,

Thanks tremendously for all the feedback, and I appreciate your analysis and commentary. I would just like to respond to Engrkenn who suggested that in fact the BAE product design is far superior to Force Protection's technology and design. Could you please provide the following data:

1. How many BAE vehicles have seen real combat, in excess of 1 year, and have been repeatedly challenged, either with conventional bombs or non-conventional IEDs?

2. What is the personnel survival right of the above data, assuming it is statistically significant?

3. Similarly, what is the vehicle survival rate?

4. What are the specific product design features that you feel make BAE a superior product? What is the cost of a BAE MRAP vs a Force Protection MRAP?

I'm sorry sir, but to say that the technology is superior, without relevant data to back it up, is in correct. Now, it's absolutely true that BAE has a large manufacturing capacity than Force Protection - no doubt. However, Force Protection had numerous mechanisms in place, including internal expansion and a partnership with General Dynamics, that would have facilitated expansion. Furthermore, Force Protection has always said it was open to further collaborations should the demand require it. As I have stated, the issue here is that DoD failed to provide the motivations - orders.

Thank you for your comments,
Manny