06 Mar 07. BAE Systems showed its RG33 series mine-protected wheeled vehicles in the 4×4 infantry carrier and 6×6 ambulance configurations to military leadership at a major U.S. industry event showcasing technologies and capabilities for the U.S. Army. BAE Systems featured the RG33 series – already on order from the U.S. Marine Corps under its Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program. RG33 is the company’s latest in the series of mine protected vehicles that offers more volume under armor than any other mine protected vehicle and incorporates the latest designs in protecting against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The entirely new vehicle design and production in record time resulted from the company’s expertise and long history of designing mine protected and mine hardened vehicles in South Africa and providing high survivability combat vehicles in the U.S. The highly survivable RG33 incorporates a monocoque V-shaped hull design that leverages knowledge gained in recent and ongoing conflicts. BAE Systems is working under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the Marine Corps to provide 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles from the RG33 series. An initial delivery order on Jan. 26 called for two of each for Marine Corps testing, and was followed by a second delivery order Feb. 14 for 90 vehicles – 15 4×4 vehicles and 75 6×6 vehicles. Under the contract, the company will begin deliveries in March and will deliver all vehicles over the next 120 days to meet urgent military requirements. BAE Systems used the latest design, modeling and simulation tools at its facilities in the U.S. and South Africa to rapidly prototype and produce the first vehicle, a 6×6 version of the RG33. The company has proven capability in rapidly producing and fielding highly survivable vehicles for the military. BAE Systems will deliver the mine-protected RG33 vehicle in 4×4 and 6×6 versions to meet the urgent requirements of the Nation’s armed forces. The vehicle series is mission configurable for infantry carrier, ambulance, command and control, convoy escort, explosive ordnance disposal and other roles and is recoverable by another RG33. The vehicle features on-board exportable power for C4I and other mission equipment.
07 Mar 07. BAE Systems has developed a prototype advanced power management system designed to provide military tactical wheeled vehicles with substantial capacity to generate electric power, addressing a critical warfighter need.
The system is being displayed on a high-power, High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) this week at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Winter Symposium and Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale. The power system on the demonstrator HMMWV delivers sufficient electricity to operate subsystems such as electronic warfare, situational awareness, communications, and vehicle prognostics and diagnostics. “The theme of this vehicle is power, and increased power means increased mission capability,” said Hank McGlynn, vice president of Vehicle Systems for BAE Systems in Johnson City, New York. Using a permanent-magnet generator, the system delivers up to 400 amps of 28-volt DC electric power at low engine speed. Its primary purpose is to provide enough on-board power to operate significant self-defense, weapon, countermeasures, and route-clearing systems. Additionally, it provides power for electrified automotive accessory systems (water pump, engine fans, power steering pump and, in the future, air conditioning) that previously were belt-driven. Subsystems installed on the demonstrator vehicle at the exhibition include a multi-band antenna that can take the place of three conventional antennas; a radio based on rapidly reconfigurable radio technology; Check-6, an infrared camera system that provides visibility in daylight, at night, and during periods of obscured visibility; prognostic and diagnostic sensors that monitor vehicle functions and predict the need for maintenance and repairs.