SA armoured vehicles a hit abroad
30 May 2005
South African armoured vehicle manufacturer Land Systems OMC has won a contract valued at around R64-million (US$10-million) to supply the Italian Carabinieri with 30 RG-12 public-order vehicles - the third major export deal announced by the firm in recent months.
Two weeks ago, Land Systems - a business unit of BAE Systems - announced an order of more than 100 RG-32M for the Swedish Defence Force, worth almost R180-million ($28-million), while in February the US Army placed an order with the company for 148 RG-31 vehicles worth around R507-million ($78-million).
"This is a magnificent endorsement of South African capability in design, engineering and technology," Land Systems MD Johan Steyn said when announcing the Italian contract last week, adding that the orders would create additional jobs at the firm's Johannesburg manufacturing plant.
"We also expect [the orders] to have a similar positive knock-on effect upstream throughout our chain
of local suppliers," Steyn said in a statement released by the company.
The vehicles for the latest order will be built using some components from Italian company Iveco Defence Vehicle Division, who are the primary contractors. Although the engines will be sourced from Iveco, the South African company will handle all of the manufacturing locally.
The RG-12 is a 4x4 armoured vehicle with an all-steel, welded armour, monocoque hull capable of protecting the crew against small arms fire, firebombs and hand grenades.
Initially designed as an anti-riot vehicle, the RG-12 is readily adaptable to a variety of roles. In public order policing configuration, 12 fully equipped police officers can operate in the fully air-conditioned vehicle for extended periods.
Both the Italian and Swedish deals are tied to offset programmes related to South Africa's multimillion-rand strategic arms deal. The US Army's acquisition was a straight purchase.
The order from the US
Army came after an incident in 2004 in which a RG-31 in Afghanistan was destroyed by a mine. Five US soldiers were able to exit the vehicle with only light injuries. The soldiers wrote a letter of thanks to Land Systems OMC, saying the vehicle had saved their lives.
"If it was not for its superior design and manufacturing we would not be able to write this letter today," the soldiers wrote.
"This order simply confirms what we have always known - that in its class the RG-31 is the best mine-protected vehicle in the world," Steyn said.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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