RG-33L w. arm
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At the beginning of June 2007, BAE sat in 4th place in the US MRAP competition with orders for just 90 vehicles – 2.8% of the total. It had to be a humbling experience for the firm that went into 2004 as the world leader in the field. The climb back has been slow and consistent, involving a major $4+ billion acquisition and a slow ramp-up of orders for its flagship RG-33 family of vehicles, which built on BAE OMC’s 4 decades of experience in blast-resistant vehicles in South Africa. By December 2007, BAE had reached second place in the MRAP production race with 3,569 direct orders, plus some orders via General Dynamics’ entry of BAE OMC’s earlier RG-31 model. In January 2008 the firm made its comeback complete, regaining its spot as the leader in the field.

The total $2.288 billion MMPV program will buy up to 2,500 vehicles for use by U.S. Army Engineers and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams through 2015. The initial buy is expected to involve 1,362 MMPVs: 684 are slated for engineering units to conduct route and area clearance missions, command and control, mount mine clearing systems, and conduct explosive hazards reconnaissance. Another 678 will go to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams to neutralize Improvised Explosive Device land mines and other unexploded ordnance.

BAE Systems was picked as the sole-source winner, and the first substantial order has now been placed…

The MMPV Vechicles

RG-33 MMPV
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Defense News reports that MMPV vehicles will feature some modifications from their MRAP counterparts. The internal components of the vehicles have been segregated into crew and equipment compartments, and the robot operator can lower a ramp to deploy a bomb-detecting robot without exposure to sniper fire or other hazards.

The EOD variant adds the robotic “interrogator arm” at the front, which can pick up and remove hazards and potential bombs if the robot is occupied or unavailable, or the job requires heavier lifting. It, too, is operated from inside the armored vehicle.

Contracts & Key Events

Travel position
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April 2/08: BAE Systems announces a $132 million production contract from the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for 179 MMPVs, 24 of which will include the remotely controlled robotic arm for land mine removal missions. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2008 and continue through April 2009.

The contract brings the total amount awarded to date to $152 million. Under a strategic public/private partnership agreement, BAE Systems and the Letterkenny Army Depot will perform automotive and final assembly production operations of the vehicles in facilities on and adjacent to the Letterkenny Army Depot facilities in Pennsylvania. BAE release.

Jan 9/08: BAE Systems announces that it has been selected by the U.S. Army to be the sole producer of the new Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV), based on their 6×6 RG-33L design. The firm has been awarded an initial $20 million delivery order for 9 MMPV test vehicles, test support, armor testing packages, and vehicle basic issue items such as first-aid kits and repair tools, training, various contract data et. al. are due for delivery between May – August 2008.

Under a strategic Public/Private Partnership Agreement, BAE Systems and the Letterkenny Army Depot (LAD), PA will perform automotive and final assembly production operations of these vehicles in facilities on and adjacent to the LAD facilities.

Additional Readings

• US Army TACOM – Medium Mine Protected Vehicle. Solicitation and amendments.

• DID Spotlight – BAE’s Diverse MRAP Orders. BAE’s direct offerings include the RG-33 family and the Caiman. Indirectly, its South African subsidiary is cooperating with General Dynamics and the Canadian government to deliver the RG-31 Mk5.

• BAE Wheeled Vehicles Press Kit – MMPV