BAe RG-33

History of BAe RG-33

The South African Army paved the way for the mass introduction of effective mine-protected vehicles in the 1970s, and many countries have since adopted this type as standard. With such a long history, with the breakthrough of battlefield survival technology, mine-protected vehicles have also developed by leaps and bounds.

In addition to the well-placed armour, the vehicles use a "V-shaped" hull that diverts some of the explosive force from the cab, and blast seats, run-flat tires, and bulletproof windshields only add to the factory's survivability. The RG-33 Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMMPV), designed by Land Systems OMC and manufactured by BAe Systems Land Systems South Africa, was launched in 2007 to provide a state-of-the-art solution to the growing demands of the battlefield - especially led by the United States The invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq showed that the best-in-class military was woefully under-equipped against IED (improvised explosive device) and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) attacks.

Like other vehicles in its class, the RG-33 has a monocoque V-shaped fuselage design. Overall dimensions vary between the two main models - a 4x4 wheel shape (RG-33) and a 6x6 wheel shape (RG-33L), which vary slightly between them. Power comes from a 400-horsepower Cummins 400 Series diesel engine mated to an Allison 3200 Series transmission system for a top speed of just under 70 mph.

Suspension affects all six wheels, with 14 inches of ground clearance, making it easier to navigate on land and further keeping the hull away from mine blasts beneath the vehicle. The standard operator consists of two people, with up to 8 seats in the 6-wheel model.

Weapons are variable - it can be a manned armored turret or a Remote Weapon System (RWS). Every array can see anything from 7.62mm/12. A 7mm machine gun and/or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher (or similar) is installed.

Personal weapons carried by passengers may also play a role in certain firefights.

So far, the only operators of the RG-33 series are the Croatian Army, the US Army, the US Marine Corps and the US SOCOM (Special Forces). Testing of the USMC unit began in January 2007, followed by an order in February and a second order in June.

In December 2012, an order was placed to upgrade the existing RG-33L to a new standard that supports UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) systems, improved situational awareness, more modular equipment customization, and larger bulletproof windows.

Armored/Armed Ambulance, Command & Control (C2) and Flatbed cargo transport versions have been added to the available product line. There is also a special IED model with a robotic arm on the front bumper to detonate the explosive device without directly endangering the crew.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Depends on weapon.

Changes