The Swedish army has ordered 60 more RG32M mine-hardened patrol vehicles from BAE Systems Land Systems SA — over and above the 200 bought between 2005 and last year .

The RG32M is a four-wheel drive light armoured vehicle with a crew of five to seven and a basic combat weight of about 7300 kg.

The order has given a shot in the arm to SA’s arms industry, which has been struggling to secure foreign orders because of developed countries’ reluctance to buy outside their regions or from entities that are not their strategic partners .

Land Systems SA spokeswoman Natasha Pheiffer said the contract value for this follow-on order was about € 18m.

Land Systems SA delivered the 200th RG32M to Sweden’s defence procurement agency, Försvarets Materielverk , earlier this year, she said.

Critics have argued that the Swedes were buying a modified version of the South African RG32 mine-hardened patrol vehicle because SA bought their Gripen fighter planes during the controversial multibillion-rand arms deal, and not out of respect for SA’s experience in designing good mine-resistant vehicles *1.

However, the Swedish defence forces considered the US’s Humvee and the South African vehicle and said they found the US vehicle too small inside, and lacking real differentials to give the cross-country performance it required.

They then opted for SA’s RG32M, with modifications that included changes to axles, wheels and tyres, bonnet and louvres, steering wheel and instrument panel. The vehicle was also given “winterisation" for Sweden’s –35°C temperature extremes.

Pheiffer said the initial contract for 102 vehicles was received in 2005 and there was a follow-on contract for another 98 vehicles received last year .

“An upgrade and test cycle will follow in the coming months for the latest order, and delivery will start in February 2010,” she said.

The United Nations purchased 75 of the RG32M vehicles to be use in Kosovo, with a further 20 for service elsewhere. The vehicle has seen service in Malawi, Mozambique, Georgia, Israel, the Lebanon, Tajikistan and Burundi — where it gained high reputation and glowing testimonies.

The manufacturer has described the RG32M as offering the “stealth attributes” associated with a compact design combined with anti-tank mine protection. It can climb up hills with a 60 degree slope.

Despite the US armed forces’ reluctance to buy their defence equipment from foreign countries, they have bought 148 of the RG32M’s larger cousin — the RG31 — after the vehicle’s performance in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The all-steel, welded armour, monocoque hull protects the crew against small arms fire, grenades, anti-personnel mines and land mine detonations under any wheel. The engine and other key components are also protected against small arms fire and shrapnel.

With acknowledgements to Hopewell Radebe and Business Day.