bodhi
15-02-2008, 07:29 PM
http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=124338
South African specialist armoured and mine-protected vehicle design and manufacturing company BAE Systems Land Systems OMC (Land Systems OMC) has yet again had the quality of its designs endorsed by the US Army, and, as a consequence, is set to earn several millions of dollars (not rands) in royalties. In its biggest contract to date for a Land Systems OMC design, the US Army has chosen the RG-33L 6x6 armoured vehicle for its Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV) requirement. The MMPV will equip the US Army Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, and BAE Systems will be the sole producer of this category of vehicles.
Under current plans, the RG-33L MMPVs will all be manufactured in the US by Land Systems OMC sister company in the global group, BAE Systems Ground Systems (Ground Systems) in York, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the US Army’s Letterkenny Army Depot in the same state. Ground Systems has adapted the RG-33L for US use.
The contract allows for the construction of up to 2 500 vehicles, and could reach a total value of some $2,29-billion (most of which would remain in the US). The first step in this programme is a $20-million order for nine MMPV test vehicles, with test support, armour testing packages, vehicle basic issue items like repair tools and first aid kits, training, and required contract data. This initial contract will be executed from May to August this year. Full production is expected to start later this year and run into 2015.
The RG-33L MMPVs will be used for route and area clearance, explosive hazards reconaissance, mine clearing (using dedicated systems mounted on the vehicles), neutralisation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as of mines and other types of unexploded ordnance, and for command and control. A characteristic feature of the RG-33L is that it can be fitted with an extendable arm with a manipulator at the end, which can be controlled from within the vehicle, increasing its flexibility and providing enhanced safety for the Army personnel as they investigate possible IEDs and/or seek to dispose of these or other forms of unexploded ordnance.
The RG-33L has a steel monocoque hull and, in its basic troop carrier form, can accomodate a driver and eleven other troops. It has a gross vehicle mass of 22 t and a payload of 7 t. This means it can be airlifted in a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The RG-33L is armoured against 5,56 mm and 7,62 mm ball and armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, and it can be fitted with extra add-on armour if required.
It has more volume under armour than any other mine protected vehicle, a modular interior, dedicated equipment stowage space, and the power generation capacity to run electronic mission equipment and the air conditioning system (essential, not luxurious, in the desert summer). The RG-33L can also be fitted with a hydraulic ramp, a 6 kW auxiliary power unit, a tail light camera, a secondary battery suite, and a thermal driver’s vision enhancer, among other options. Because of the modular nature of its interior, the basline RG-33L can be easily adapted to fulfill a number of roles.
It features a V-shaped hull of the latest design, providing enhanced protection. Its large, armoured, windows provide excellent vision for its crew and embarked troops, and the vehicle can itself mount a machine gun – fitted with an armoured but transparent shield for the gunner – or, alternatively, a remotely-controlled weapons station.
If executed in full, this contract will take total US military orders for Land Systems OMC designed vehicles to 4 255, comprising RG-33Ls, RG-33s and RG-31s, the latter two being 4x4 types.
South African specialist armoured and mine-protected vehicle design and manufacturing company BAE Systems Land Systems OMC (Land Systems OMC) has yet again had the quality of its designs endorsed by the US Army, and, as a consequence, is set to earn several millions of dollars (not rands) in royalties. In its biggest contract to date for a Land Systems OMC design, the US Army has chosen the RG-33L 6x6 armoured vehicle for its Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV) requirement. The MMPV will equip the US Army Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, and BAE Systems will be the sole producer of this category of vehicles.
Under current plans, the RG-33L MMPVs will all be manufactured in the US by Land Systems OMC sister company in the global group, BAE Systems Ground Systems (Ground Systems) in York, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the US Army’s Letterkenny Army Depot in the same state. Ground Systems has adapted the RG-33L for US use.
The contract allows for the construction of up to 2 500 vehicles, and could reach a total value of some $2,29-billion (most of which would remain in the US). The first step in this programme is a $20-million order for nine MMPV test vehicles, with test support, armour testing packages, vehicle basic issue items like repair tools and first aid kits, training, and required contract data. This initial contract will be executed from May to August this year. Full production is expected to start later this year and run into 2015.
The RG-33L MMPVs will be used for route and area clearance, explosive hazards reconaissance, mine clearing (using dedicated systems mounted on the vehicles), neutralisation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as of mines and other types of unexploded ordnance, and for command and control. A characteristic feature of the RG-33L is that it can be fitted with an extendable arm with a manipulator at the end, which can be controlled from within the vehicle, increasing its flexibility and providing enhanced safety for the Army personnel as they investigate possible IEDs and/or seek to dispose of these or other forms of unexploded ordnance.
The RG-33L has a steel monocoque hull and, in its basic troop carrier form, can accomodate a driver and eleven other troops. It has a gross vehicle mass of 22 t and a payload of 7 t. This means it can be airlifted in a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The RG-33L is armoured against 5,56 mm and 7,62 mm ball and armour-piercing incendiary ammunition, and it can be fitted with extra add-on armour if required.
It has more volume under armour than any other mine protected vehicle, a modular interior, dedicated equipment stowage space, and the power generation capacity to run electronic mission equipment and the air conditioning system (essential, not luxurious, in the desert summer). The RG-33L can also be fitted with a hydraulic ramp, a 6 kW auxiliary power unit, a tail light camera, a secondary battery suite, and a thermal driver’s vision enhancer, among other options. Because of the modular nature of its interior, the basline RG-33L can be easily adapted to fulfill a number of roles.
It features a V-shaped hull of the latest design, providing enhanced protection. Its large, armoured, windows provide excellent vision for its crew and embarked troops, and the vehicle can itself mount a machine gun – fitted with an armoured but transparent shield for the gunner – or, alternatively, a remotely-controlled weapons station.
If executed in full, this contract will take total US military orders for Land Systems OMC designed vehicles to 4 255, comprising RG-33Ls, RG-33s and RG-31s, the latter two being 4x4 types.