sábado, 13 de septiembre de 2008

Spain orders MRAP RG-31 Mk5E.


General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDSBS) has been awarded a EUR64.6 million (USD93.9 million) contract to supply 100 RG-31 Mk5E mine-protected vehicles to the Spanish Army. The contract, announced by the company on 3 September, calls for the delivery of 85 armoured personnel carriers, 10 ambulances and five command post variants, plus the integration of remote-controlled weapon station turrets and long-term integrated logistic support.

G
eneral Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas, as prime contractor, will provide program management, engineering and logistic support. BAE Systems Land Systems OMC of South Africa will supply the vehicles as a subcontractor to General Dynamics. Work under the contract is expected to be completed by 2009. The contract includes an option for a second phase for 80 additional vehicles that will include some manufacturing in Spain.

The RG-31 Mk5E is a 4x4 armored vehicle with a combat mass of up to 17,000 kg, including 3,500 kg of payload. In standard Armored Personel Carrier configuration, this air-conditioned vehicle carries a crew of 10 (driver plus nine). It is in service with many other countries including the United States and Canada and has been operating in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The first
vehicles will be deployed to Afghanistan and, afterwards, could equip the spanish troops in Lebanon.