South African armoured and mine-protected vehicle company BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa (LSSA) has unveiled the latest version of its RG35 6 × 6 armoured combat vehicle. This was done at the 2013 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition at the Excel Centre, in London, last week. This is one of the world’s most important defence shows.

LSSA describes the RG35 6 × 6 as a “crossover combat vehicle [that] is a mine-protected multipurpose-fighting vehicle with wide-ranging applications, from armoured personnel carriers to infantry fighting vehicles. Further versions include ambulance, command and control, fire support, recovery and engineering platforms.” The vehicle displayed at the DSEI exhibition was fitted with LSSA’s self-defence remotely operated weapon (SD ROW) mounting.

The RG35 has been evolving since the vehicle was first revealed in 2009. That first version was also a 6 × 6 vehicle. In 2011, it was complemented by the develop-ment of the RG35 4 × 4, which is intended as an armoured and mine-protected reconnaissance, patrol and utility vehicle.

“Quite a few significant changes were made to the 4 × 4 version,” reports LSSA business development and communications director Natasha Pheiffer. “Now these changes have been integrated into the 6 × 6, to increase their commonality.” As a result, the commonality between the 4 × 4 and 6 × 6 versions is now greater than 85%.

The improvements made include a modern, high-capa-city, independent suspension system which is hydropneumatic and fitted with a ride height management system; a payload of up to 13 t, depending on role and application; and wide-body variants which can be equipped with one- or two-man turrets while also providing excellent space use, yet retaining compactness.

Other improvements come in the form of a range of options. Both the 4 × 4 and 6 × 6 ver-sions can now be fitted with a 441.3 kW (600 hp) power plant, resulting in power-to-weight ratios of up to 29.42 kW/t (40 hp/t). (The original 6 × 6 model’s engine was a 336 kW or 450 hp unit.)
They can be equipped with seats in their rear compartments which face forward, inward or outward. There is now an optional hydraulically operated rear ramp and an optional powered side door to improve the boarding and exiting of the vehicles.

The SD ROW has been devel-oped by LSSA’s Dynamics business, and is a lightweight weapons system for use on a range of soft-skinned, mine-protected and light-armoured vehicles. It can be fitted with 5.56 mm or 7.62 mm light machine guns.

The 6 × 6 RG35 can also be fitted with the tactical remote turret (TRT), also developed by the Dynamics unit. This turret can be armed with 20 mm, 25 mm or 30 mm cannons. Fitted with electromechanical drives, it is operated by one person, who enjoys 360˚ observation through the TRT’s sighting system. It also has comprehensive safety systems. It is intended for use on mine-protected, light-armoured and infantry combat vehicles. The TRT was also displayed at the DSEI exhibition, but mounted on vehicles from Renault Truck Defence, of France, and Nimr, of the United Arab Emirates.