Although the Ridgback's Protected Patrol Vehicle's (PPV) larger "relative", the Mastiff PPV (based on the Cougar 6x6 MRAP) saw much success during its use, there were some duties it could not handle well due to it's size; most notably urban operations.  To fill that need, the British adopted the smaller Ridgback PPV.

The Ridgback is a heavily modified version of the US' Force Protection Cougar 4x4 MRAP and followed the Tempest Mine Protected Vehicle, an earlier vehicle also based on the Cougar 4x4. The base PPV is built by Force Protection Inc. and then sent to NP Aerospace for modification to British specifications.  Some modifications/additions made by NP Aerospace include the fitting of Enhanced Protection Bar Armor (EPBA), communications equipment, anti-IED Electronic Countermeasures and numerous sundry Britiish-specific fittings. The Ridgback is produced in three (3) variants: the Battlefield Ambulance (BA), Command Vehicle (CV) and the most numerous, the Troop Carrier Vehicle (TCV).