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 2003-2006
Nine RG-31s were previously supplied to the US Army in 2003 and 2004 and have seen service overseas. The Canadian Army had deployed 3 RG-31s as part of its contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. In addition, the vehicles were extensively used by NATO forces in the former Yugoslavia as well as the United Nations in Lebanon, Georgia, Syria and Kosovo. The RG-31 vehicles in the US Military had first been acquired by the US Army in support of on-going activities as part Route Clearance Vehicle family. In that role, the RG-31 was used for command and control during route clearance operations. RG-31's were also used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams during disposal operations or for special operations. The vehicle series was also applicable to security missions and VIP operations.
In October 2004 2 Combat Engineers with Bravo Company, 367th Engineer Combat Battalion (Corps) (Light), part of Combined Joint Task Force 76 in Afghanistan and stationed at Bagram Air Field, wrote the following testimonial: "While on a vehicle patrol in southeastern Afghanistan, our vehicle suffered a possible mine strike or Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack. All 5 passengers of the vehicle were able to exit the RG-31 and run to the next vehicle in the convoy, where we were treated for minor injuries and continued to carry on with the mission. The driver, the machine gunner, and myself were taken by helicopter to the closest medical station and kept overnight for observation.
"After going through an ordeal like this, we feel compelled to thank the company responsible for the RG-31. We also feel that we could provide some good feedback to you in regards to what, if any, changes or additions could be made to the vehicle. We hope that the US Army takes into consideration how valuable the RG-31 is compared to an "up-armored" Humvee, and is in the process of buying more of these vehicles. We had 2 RG-31's in Afghanistan, now we have one. The threat of mines and IED's is still prevalent. We are ready to go back out and do our job of finding these threats, we would just feel better equipped if we had more RG-31's. We urge your company to do whatever it takes to sell or market this and all your other protective vehicles to the US Army. If needed, we can provide written testimony in regard to the RG-31."
After the delivery of the initial RG-31 vehicles, BAE Systems partnered with General Dynamics Land Systems to supply additional RG-31 vehicles to the US military. General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics Land Systems, fabricated the vehicles.
The US Army Communication and Electronics Command, on behalf of the US Army Program Manager for Close Combat Systems, awarded General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada a contract on 16 February 2005 with a potential value not to exceed USD $78 million (CAD $97 million) for 148 RG-31 Medium Mine Protected Vehicles. Included in this price was USD $3 million in spare parts. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, was a business unit of General Dynamics. Under this contract, General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada would provide the program management and logistics support while BAE Land Systems OMC of South Africa would manufacture the vehicles. Land Systems OMC was a division of BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, which was a business unit of BAE Systems Land Systems of the United Kingdom. The contract, which had initial funding of USD $38.2 million, was signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government. Final contract definition and pricing was expected to be completed by April 2005. Deliveries occured from April to December 2005.
On 29 November 2005 the Government of Canada awarded a CAD $60.3 million (US $51.3 million) contract to General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada to provide 50 RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicles with an option for 25 additional vehicles. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, was a business unit of General Dynamics. Under this contract, General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada would provide program management and engineering and logistics support, while BAE Land Systems OMC of South Africa would manufacture the vehicles. The vehicles would incorporate a Kongsberg Protector M151 Remote Weapon Station, equipped with a day and night sighting system, which allowed the operator to fire the weapon while remaining protected within the vehicle. Deliveries would occur from February to April 2006. The RG-31 tactical vehicle would be used by the Canadian Forces in their operations in Afghanistan.
While providing superior protection against threats to other types of vehicles in the US military, the RG-31 was not immune to large IED explosions. On 5 May 2006, the Department of Defense announced that 2 soldiers from the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade, had been killed in Baghdad when an IED detonated near their RG-31 vehicle. On 8 May 2006, the DOD soldier of the 110th Engineer Battalion, Kansas National Guard, was killed on , by an IED, also while riding in an RG-31. On 24 and 26 May the DOD announced soldiers had been killed while riding in RG-31s, one from the 164th Engineer Battalion, North Dakota National Guard, and another from the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade.
On 10 July 2006, the Department of Defense announced that 3 soldiers from the 54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, had been killed by an IED while riding in an RG-31 vehicle.
On 14 October 2006, the Department of Defense announced that a soldier from the 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Combat Support Brigade (Maneuver Enhancement) had died from injuries sustained from an IED blast enountered while riding in an RG-31. Also in October 2006, 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 $27.2 million to provide 60 RG-31 Mk 5 Mine Protected Vehicles, with an option for 34 additional vehicles.
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