Defense and aerospace systems developer BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, has launched the latest version of its acclaimed RG series of mine resistant personnel carrier vehicles.

The new vehicle, the RG31 Mk6E, would be making its international debut at the International Defense exhibition, currently being held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“We are confident that this latest development will further confirm our South African business as the world leader in mine-protected vehicle technology,” said Johan Steyn, MD of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa.

“The RG series builds on the three decades of experience we have gained in South Africa, through vehicles such as the Casspir, Mamba, and Mfezi,” he explained.

Among the latest developments incorporated in the RG31 Mk6E were new antimine seats. These provided enhanced protection to the occupants from lumbar spinal injuries which can be caused by the shock-waves associated with land mine detonations.

The seats incorporate shock attenuation crushable elements developed at Land Systems South Africa. The company stated that tests have shown that these absorbed some of the vertical impulse associated with mine blasts, reducing the likelihood of injury during large landmine explosions.

Since receiving a Canadian armed forces order for RG31 Mk3 vehicles in 2003, the South African RG-series of products have boosted the country’s exports by more than $430-million.

This was achieved through a steadily expanding order book for vehicles, spares and support for new customers around the globe, including the UAE’s Special Operations Command, which operates 76 RG31 Mk5 vehicles, of which 70 are armoured personnel carriers and six are command vehicles. 

The RG vehicle programme has also created over 300 new jobs at BAE Systems’ Land Systems OMC factory, near Johannesburg, and many more throughout its supplier network. 

Since 2004, BAE Systems has sold over 2 200 RG31 vehicles, including a series of major orders for the US military which operates both the RG31 and its stable-mate RG33, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Of these, more than 1 300 RG31 mine-protected vehicles have been delivered to the US and Canadian forces.

The US RG31s are manufactured by Land Systems OMC in Benoni and also under licence by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada.

In addition to ongoing US orders, several European countries are expressing interest in RG31 mine protected vehicle for their forces, with a recent order from Spain for 100 vehicles, confirming this interest.

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