BAE Systems has received an order worth ZAR1.5 billion (£150 million or approximately US$300 million) to produce 773 RG-31 Mk5E Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps' Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle programme.
Production of the South African designed RG-31 vehicles will take place in South Africa and the United States. BAE Systems' Land Systems OMC business in Benoni, South Africa will manufacture 440 of the vehicles with the remaining 333 to be built under licence by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada.Delivery orders will be completed by April 2009. Johan Steyn, Managing Director of Land Systems South Africa, said: 'This new order testifies to the superior protection the battle-proven RG-31 provides, founded on the mine-resistant vehicle expertise South Africa brings to BAE Systems. It once again also proves the high quality engineering and manufacturing capability the company maintains here.' |
