BAE Systems, the worldwide British defense contracting firm that maintains business operations in Jessup, Pittsburgh, and York, Pennsylvania, has landed three new contracts valued at $61 million with the U.S. Marine Corps to provide service, support and spare parts for the company’s light-armored, mine-resistant combat vehicle, the RG 33, which is manufactured in York.
Considered to be the most survivable of mine-resistant, ambush-protected surface vehicles in war-time service, the four-wheel, 14-ton RG 33 and its 24-ton, six-wheel extended version can be used as an infantry carrier, ambulance, command and control vehicle, convoy escort or bomb squad transporter. While originally designed by BAE’s South African subsidiary, the RG 33 provides transport today for U.S. Army and Marine soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“MRAP vehicles provide the troops with the best and most reliable protection,” said Mark Signorelli, VP of New Vehicles and Amphibious Systems for BAE Systems.
The contracts, which will be managed by the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command, provide training and support to Marines using the vehicles, at a value of $55 million including a carry-forward of $7 million from an earlier contract, and spare parts, valued at $5.5 million, for components to add to protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In addition to work that will go to the manufacturing facility at York, the contracts will also fund support for the vehicles in Anniston, Alabama, Louisville, Kentucky, and Marine bases where the vehicles are deployed.
Source: BAE Systems
Writer: Joseph Plummer
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