BAE Systems, Land Systems South Africa, through its teaming agreement with General Dynamics Land Systems Canada [GD] (GDLS-C), yesterday said it won a contract worth more than $130 million for survivability and mobility upgrades to its RG31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles.
The upgrade kits will further improve the survivability and mobility of the battle-proven RG31 vehicles.
As part of the modernization work in South Africa, a powerpack providing higher performance and new suspension components and transfer cases, which were designed and manufactured by BAE, will be incorporated into the upgrade kits.
“We appreciate our ongoing relationship with GDLS-C as well as the confidence that the U.S. military has in the RG31 vehicle,” said Johan Steyn, managing director BAE Land Systems South Africa. “Readiness and Sustainment is an important part of our business and through these programmes we continue to protect the lives of U.S. Soldiers.”
The RG31 is a mature, combat proven mine protected armoured personnel carrier designed, developed and manufactured by BAE Systems in South Africa.
In total, more than 1,600 RG31 vehicles have been delivered through GDLS-C under the MRAP program. An additional 566 RG31s have been delivered to U.S. forces under separate contracts.