US Marine Corps Purchases 600 RG-31 Mk5E for MRAP Program

Released on Wednesday, August 08, 2007

LONDON, Ontario, Canada � U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada a USD $338.7 million delivery order to produce 600 RG-31 Category II (Cat II) vehicles for its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program. This contract is in addition to an order announced earlier this year for 20 MRAP vehicles. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

The 600 RG-31s will be manufactured by Demmer Corporation of Lansing, Michigan, with additional production coming from BAE OMC of Benoni, South Africa, in order to meet the urgent production schedule. Deliveries will be completed by March, 2008.

The General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada MRAP vehicle is based on an extended version of the RG-31 Mk5, the latest member of the highly successful RG-31 vehicle family. U.S. forces have previously ordered or received 492 RG-31 vehicles, including 309 Mk5s for the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The vehicles have proven to be highly effective against mines, improvised explosive devices and ballistic threats encountered by U.S. and Allied forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The RG-31 family of vehicles has demonstrated effective performance, accumulating over 2 million miles during two years of operational service," said Dr. Sridhar Sridharan, senior vice-president of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada. "Our team of experienced manufacturers will ensure that these capable vehicles are delivered to our troops on an urgent basis. We are grateful for the opportunity to once again play a role in protecting the lives of our soldiers."

The contract was signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown Agency of the Canadian Government.