BAE Systems » RG-33

RG-33 is an armored vehicle developed by designed by BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa for military purposes and produced in the US. BAE Systems in the US extensively modified it with additional protection, new power train and suspension systems.

It is based on the RG-31 which itself is based on the Mamba APC. The RG-33 belongs to the group of MRAPs and has protection against landmines, IEDs and fires from infantry weapons. As a rule, it is equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station in the caliber 7.62×51 mm NATO.

The RG-33 MRAP is available as the standard 4x4 with a curb weight of 22 tons and the extended RG-33L variant with six wheels which can carry twice as many people in the back, and weighs 26 to 37 tons depending on the version. The RG33 is manufactured in several configurations including the category I 4×4, category II 6×6, the heavy armored ground ambulance (HAGA) and the special operations command (SOCOM) vehicle.

It has the armored monocoque V-hull with seats and footrests suspended from the ceiling. The engine compartment is a separate moncoque structure that bolts to rest of the hull — the original design idea of the RG-33. The U.S. uses 259 RG-33 4x4 variants in a Special Operations Command (SOCOM) configuration with remote weapon stations, two extra seats, and a rear door assist, and 16 RG-33L 6x6 variants in a Heavy Armored Ground Ambulance (HAGA) configuration. Other operators of the RG-33 are Croatia and Eqypt.