Despite the expanded uses of drones in warfare, there’s still a need for lightweight tactical vehicles. While Chevrolet’s latest tactical vehicle is heavily modified, Ford Global Fleet Sales decided to use a fairly standard Ranger as the basis for the new FG-P. That’s not to say there haven’t been significant enhancements, but without the olive green paint, you’d probably assume this was someone’s wild off-roader project truck.
The main purpose of the FG-P version of the 2024 Ford Ranger isn’t to go out and face an enemy head-on. Instead, it’s more about surveillance and observation and getting out undetected when the situation calls for it. That’s why the Ranger-based FG-P isn’t heavily armored, but this midsize truck is still capable of carrying 7,716 pounds thanks to its improved suspension system.
It’s Got Military Tires, Military Suspension, Military Shocks
The FG-P’s suspension was upgraded to a very strict standard—in fact, to a specific Australian standard—that allows it to keep functioning in very heavy use. The basic design is unchanged, so it will work with the Ranger’s OE ABS and ESP, but uses heavier front springs, new rear leaf springs, and twin-tube foam-cell dampers on the front and rear to control suspension movements.
It’s Got A Military Motor … It’ll Run Good On Jet Fuel
With the need to carry a heavy loadout, the FG-P Ranger has a selection of four engines and two transmissions that roughly match what the rest-of-world Ranger gets, albeit with modifications. This means that not only will it come with the 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost I-4, but will also get a single-turbo and twin-turbo 2.0-liter turbodiesel Panther I-4 along with a new 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 that’s capable of 247 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. These engines are either backed by a six-speed automatic or Ford’s 10-speed SelectShift.
The diesels have been upgraded to run on either diesel or JP8—a grade of jet fuel that is standard among most military hardware—but this required modification of the emissions system. The catalytic converter is removed and replaced with a cat-less muffler system, the EGR valve is blocked with a plate, and the ECU software is then recalibrated to deactivate the EGR sensor and delete the error codes due to that EGR blocker plate. There are more software changes that allow the ECU to allow the FG-P Ranger to run on various other NATO fuels and blends like F63 (a diesel fuel made from a blend of regular diesel and JP8).
Rigged for Silent Running
Finally, the FG-P Ranger has two special tricks up its sleeve. First is the Blackout System, where by flipping a switch, all running lights, passive system lights (although optional convoy or infrared lights may be activated), and screens turn off or enter a sleep mode. Sound sources like the horn and warning beepers are also turned off, but the engine, HVAC, power steering, and all safety systems operate normally. This allows for stealthy night movements for active surveillance or to make the FG-P nearly impossible to spot when it is stationary.
However, if you truly need to move with minimal noise, that’s where Silent Mode comes in. The FG-P Ranger is equipped an add-on electric drive system involving an e-motor on the rear axle with its own battery. Unlike a typical hybrid, this is a supplemental system that requires the transmission be placed in neutral and uses an interlock system to prevent the ICE engine from operating while in Silent Mode. This mode allows for movement without the engine making noise or producing heat, making this a very stealthy vehicle when combined with the Blackout System.
Silent Mode is limited to just 12 mph, but Ford can program it to reach higher speeds when requested. The battery capacity selection is also not very large and limits driving in this all-electric mode between just over a mile and roughly 19 miles, depending on the battery size chosen. The good news is that, when you do need to go fast and farther, the engine can be quickly restarted and normal drive operation begins again, just like a PHEV.
Will The Average Joe Be Able To Buy It?
While this FG-P is a hybrid (of sorts), it doesn’t tell us much of anything about how a hypothetical consumer Ford Ranger PHEV might be set up. And of course, unless an imported one ends up at a military auction site, you won’t be able to buy one. We aren’t sure if any branches of the U.S. armed forces are testing the FG-P but it seems more likely to be an international affair. Even so, it’s interesting to see a military application for this new Ranger.
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