MRAC order for BAE Systems

has received $55.4m for 90 advanced tactical wheeled vehicles that will offer enhanced protection to US Marines and soldiers under the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program.

The 90 vehicles - 75 6x6 vehicles and 15 4x4 vehicles from the company's RG33 family of vehicles - have been ordered under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract originally awarded on January 26, when two 4x4 and two 6x6 vehicles were contracted for MRAP program testing. The US government may place additional delivery orders for production of up to 4,100 MRAP vehicles.

‘BAE Systems has successfully completed its own blast testing of the RG33 vehicle design, and the results met or exceeded the MRAP survivability requirements in all cases,’ said John Swift, MRAP Program Manager for BAE Systems at its Triangle, Virginia office.

Under this current IDIQ delivery order, BAE Systems will begin delivering vehicles in March and will deliver all vehicles over the next 120 days.

The RG33 is available with base protection against medium machine gun or small arms fire and mine blast protection at a level that is said to equal to or exceed any fielded mine protected vehicle. RG33 vehicles can be equipped with tailoured armour packages as well.

Advanced crew and passenger survivability is obtained through blast-resistant seating technology, transparent armour and unique reconfigurable interior stations. The platforms are designed with a power train equipped to handle upgrades and enhancements.