New Armored Vehicle Contracts in Nordic Markets

New armored vehicle contracts for BAE Systems in Finland and Norway have taken land sales to Nordic countries above $215 million in the past two months, underpinning the strength of the company's export portfolio.
The company has won a contract to supply 16 RG32M mine-hardened patrol vehicles to the Finland Defence Force, worth more than 6 million ($8.1 million). In addition, it has also received a $7.2 million amendment to an existing contract to enhance the propulsion and mobility of Norwegian M113 vehicles. These follow on from a contract received last month for the production of 48 Archer 155mm self-propelled artillery gun systems and their associated ammunition handling systems for the Swedish and Norwegian armed forces, worth over $200 million.
The contract modification for the Norwegian M113 vehicles will provide 25 upgrade kits required to convert the existing M113s to the M113E3 configuration. The upgrade kits include powerpack, suspension, weld, air conditioning and hydraulic manifold. These upgrades will supplement 72 kits which the company provided to Norway between 2007 and 2009, and as before will be supplied by BAE Systems in the USA.
BAE Systems' suspension upgrades enable the vehicle to use rubber band tracks and provide passengers with a smoother ride. The company will also provide support to the Defence Logistics Organisation in Norway.
The Norwegian armed forces will install the kits and test the completed vehicle upgrades at its facilities in country. BAE Systems' work is anticipated to begin in early 2010 and be complete by July 2011.