MRAPs for Poland

MRAPs for Poland (NSI News Source Info) October 10, 2008: Forecast International reports that an Aug 20/08 land mine attack that killed 3 Polish soldiers in their Hummer is causing the same kind of rethink that other advanced armies have been experiencing.

Dingo 2

In response, reports in the Polish press indicate that Poland is seeking an emergency buy of 40 MRAP vehicles, with deliveries to conclude before the end of 2008. The contenders are reported to be BAE OMC’s RG-31 Mk5E extended version, Force Protection’s Cougar, or KMW’s Dingo 2. This early buy is expected to be followed by a follow-on tender for 140 vehicles, using more standard tender procedures. Now, an article in the Polish press hints that the competition may have been pre-empted by a leasing arrangement. Force Protection’s Cougar is in widespread use by the US military, and its vehicles were the catalyst for the US military’s 15,000+ vehicle MRAP program, though it has fallen to 3rd place now after Navistar and BAE Systems. Its Cougar vehicles are also used by the British, Canadian, and Yemeni militaries, and a variant serves with the Iraqi military as the Badger. Germany was an early adopter of mine-protected vehicles within the NATO alliance, and KMW’s Dingo vehicles are playing a growing role in its future force. The Dingo-2 has also been featured in a number of international competitions, losing some but picking up wins in neighboring Austria (20), Belgium (352), The Czech Republic (4, facing issues including delivery delays), and Luxembourg (48). The RG-31 was designed in South Africa, which pioneered mine-resistant vehicles several decades ago. It has been deployed by the UN, Canada, the Netherlands (on loan from Canada), and the US military, who considers it their favored MRAP vehicle for Afghanistan. Spain has also ordered RG-31s, but has yet to take delivery.