RG-31 Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV)/Mk 3
RG-31A1/Mk 5
RG-31A2/Mk 5E
RG-31A3/Mk 5EM
RG-31 Mk 6
Program History 2007-
In January 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that they had been awarded an Indefinite Delivery, an Indefinite Quantity contract by Marine Corps Systems Command and an initial delivery order for the testing, production and support of 4 RG-31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. The MRAP vehicles would provide improved protection for troops from mines, improvised explosive devices and other threats. General Dynamics stated that a possible follow-on production contract could call for the delivery of up to 4100 vehicles. Also in January 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that the US Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), in support of the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support, had awarded the company a contract for $76.5 million to to provide 169 RG-31 Mk 5 Mine Protected Vehicles, with an option for 9 additional vehicles.
In February 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that Marine Corps Systems Command had awarded the company an $11 million delivery order to produce 20 vehicles for its RG-31 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. The contract was in addition to the order announced in January 2007 for 4 MRAP vehicles for test and evaluation.
In June 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, in support of the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support, had awarded the company a contract for $19.9 million to provide 44 RG-31 Mk 5 Mine Protected Vehicles. The Mk 5 was the most advanced model in the family at the time.
In July 2007, BAE Systems announced that the US Army would procure 12 additional L-Rod slat/bar kits for delivery during 2007 to operational units in response to an Army Operational Need Statement. The Army expressed interest in procuring additional kits for the entire RG-31 and RG-31A1 fleet.
In August 2007, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that US Marine Corps Systems Command had awarded the company a $338.7 million delivery order to produce 600 RG-31 Category I vehicles for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program.
On 8 October 2007, BAE Systems announced that it had been award a contract to fit its L-Rod slat/bar armor kit to US Army RG-31 and Cougar MRAP vehicles. This system had already been fitted to Buffalo vehicles in US Army service.
In early 2008, the Yuma Test Center and operational testers conducted several joint tests of the RG-31 Medium Mine Protected Vehicle to assess vehicle capabilities with bar armor and a remote weapon system. Testing of the Self Protection Adaptive Roller Kit, or SPARK mine roller addressed the effectiveness of the SPARK on several vehicles. That system consisted of a Pearson mine roller fitted to tactical vehicles to counter explosive threats. SPARK testing had been earmarked for numerous vehicle platforms, including the RG-31 series.
On 31 March 2008, Foster Miller, of Waltham, Massachusetts, was awarded by US Army TACOM a firm-fixed price contract for spall liner kits for the RG-31 Mark 3 and Mark 5 vehicles. Work would be performed in Waltham, Massachusetts. Work was expected to be completed by 30 March 2009. One bid was solicited on 30 November 2007.
In June 2008, General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada announced that the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), in support of the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support, had awarded the company a $67.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract for 111 RG-31 Mk 5E vehicles. The 111 RG-31 Mk 5E vehicles ordered under Operational Need Statement 3 were similar to the 600 RG-31 Mk 5E vehicles ordered by the US Marine Corps Systems Command.
In July 2008, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada announced that the US Marine Corps Systems Command had awarded the company a delivery order to produce 773 RG-31 Mk 5E Category I vehicles for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program. The order has a total potential value of $552 million. Also in July 2008, the US Army announced that an IED Interrogation Arm for the RG-31 and Husky vehicles had been developed by the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate, part of the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command. The arm was similar to that standard on the Buffalo MPCV, and would allow the smaller vehicles to investigate potential IEDs and similar objects from a distance without having to wait for a Buffalo to become available. Also in July 2008, BAE Systems announced that it had received an order from the US Marine Corps worth $300 million to produce 773 RG-31 Mk 5E Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles. On 16 July 2008, the Pentagon said that US commanders in Afghanistan wanted additional MRAP vehicles, specifically the RG-31. The RG-31, smaller than most of the other Category I MRAPs, was preferred because it was seen as better suited for the unimproved roads and rugged terrain of the country.
In April 2009, the Department of Defense announced that BAE Systems information and Electronic Systems Integration, Washington DC had been awarded by TACOM Contracting Center, Detroit Arsenal, a $15,984,010 firm fixed price indefinitzed contractual action with 12 month period of performance contract for 2 Bar Armor kits prototypes (1 each) for the RG-31 and Cougar Category I Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles. This contract also included 325 production Bar Armor Kits for the Cougar Category I MRAP. Work was to be performed in Washington, District of Colombia, with an estimated completion date of 1 May 2009.
In the early stages of the MRAP program, RG-31's were amongst the forerunners. By mid-2010, the US military's fleet density had grown to upwards of 1,300 vehicles. With the completion of LRIP 17 and 18, the RG-31 Team added another 277 vehicles to its fleet with significant upgrades beyond what was previously fielded. The shorter cab RG-31A1 had been used in US Army engineer units in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in limited quantities. The RG-31A2 had been purchased in significant quantities as the MRAP program expanded.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
