RANGER GOES TACTICAL

Military Ford Ranger FG-P can run on jet fuel and sneak around on electric power

The Ford Ranger is a ute unlike any other. And we’re not just talking about the standard model you see plying local roads everywhere; we’re referring to the newly available FG-P tactical ute.

Offered by Ford Global Fleet Sales, FG-P is a hardcore tactical version of the Ranger designed for military and other high-risk personnel during clandestine operations.

FG-P keeps much of what has made Ranger an attractive ute, levelling things up with heavy-duty wraparound bull bars, a roof rack, and camouflage ready colour options.

Any light tactical vehicle worth its salt offers ample protection for its occupants.

With FG-P, that starts with Black Out, a switch that activates a series of control modules designed to turn off exterior and interior light sources as the vehicle enters sleep mode.

Black Out mode also turns off the horn and warning chimes while keeping on critical systems such as the HVAC, power steering, airbags, ABS, and ESP.

Military customers can opt for additional convoy and infrared lights.

FG-P can also become whisper quiet thanks to Silent Mode. This feature turns off the internal combustion engine (ICE) to minimise sound and heat signatures. A small electric motor takes over to propel the tactical vehicle at up to 20km/h, but Ford says it can augment the speed and increase range by adding a bigger battery. FG-P can run on pure electric power for up to 30km. Tactical utes must stay ready to carry any load thrown at them, so Ford has upgraded FGP with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 3500kg (Ranger Wildtrak has a GVM of 3060 kg.

FG-P also features a heavy-duty suspension system composed of twin tube foam cell dampers for the front and rear, with the latter also getting a multi-leaf spring setup. Heavy-duty rubber and polyurethane bushes provide additional stability.

Perhaps the most radical feature is its fuelling capabilities. With the JP8 fuel conversion, FG-P can run on jet fuel and all grades of diesel. FG-P will also have a blocked EGR valve to prevent return exhaust from entering the EGR cooler. Plus, software updates will recalibrate the ECU and deactivate the EGR sensor while deleting error codes that may appear due to the EGR valve blockage.

Ford does not release prices for its specialist vehicles. But we assume Ford Global Fleet Sales can deliver FG-P nearly anywhere in the world to customers that require it.