TACOM places $76.5m order

The

(TACOM) has awarded

$76.5m to provide 169 RG-31 Mk5 Mine Protected Vehicles with an option for nine additional vehicles.

The contract was signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government. Under this contract, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada will provide the program management while BAE Land Systems OMC of South Africa will manufacture the vehicles. Deliveries will take place between June 2007 and January 2008.

The RG-31 Mk5 is the latest version of the RG-31 vehicle family. The Mk5 is said to deliver a significant increase in power and payload to meet emerging requirements.

In service with forces around the world, the RG-31 is a multi-role armoured vehicle capable of a variety of military applications. Offering enhanced mine blast resistance, as well as protection against both improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats, these vehicles will be used by the US Army in support of ongoing activities.

In October 2006, TACOM awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a contract for $27.2m to provide 60 RG-31 Mk5 vehicles. In November 2006 this order was increased to 94 vehicles for an additional $15.4m.