RG-31 Nyala
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use South African English Template:Infobox weapon
The RG-31 Nyala is a 4×4 multi-purpose Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle manufactured in South Africa by Land Systems OMC (a division of Denel SOC LTD), located in Benoni, South Africa and in Turkey by FNSS Defence Systems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is based on the Mamba APC of TFM Industries.
The RG-31 has become the multi-purpose vehicle of choice of the UN and other peacekeeping and security forces. It is finding favour with non-governmental organisations requiring a vehicle with a non-aggressive appearance to protect their personnel against land mines.Template:Citation needed
Design
The RG-31 is based on a UNIMOG chassis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is built from a V-shaped all-steel welded armor monocoque hull and high suspension, typical of South African mine protected vehicles, providing excellent small-arms and mine blast protection.<ref name="defupd">Template:Cite web</ref> The vehicle is designed to resist a blast equivalent to two TM-57 anti-tank mines detonating simultaneously.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The RG-31 is classified by the United States Department of Defense as a category 1 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle.Template:Citation needed
The vehicle accommodates a crew ranging from 5 to 10 depending on mission needs, depending on model. Dismounting is provided via a large air actuated rear door and two front doors, also air actuated.
In July 2016, the Letterkenny Army Depot in Pennsylvania rolled out the latest variant of the RG-31, with improvements including an engine upgrade from 275 to 300 hp, a transmission upgrade, independent suspension, 360-degree spotlights for night visibility, and an armored gunner's hatch. The depot is scheduled to produce 929 improved RG-31s through 2020.<ref>Letterkenny U.S. Army Depot to celebrate production of new RG31 4x4 route clearance vehicle Template:Webarchive - Armyrecognition.com, 26 July 2016</ref>
Production history
Variants
Variants come in either an armoured personnel carrier (APC) or utility vehicle (cargo) configuration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- RG-31 Mk3A – based on Mamba APC
- RG-31 Mk5<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- RG-31 Mk5E – An extended Mk5 with larger passenger/cargo capacity and superior blast and ballistic protection.
- RG-31 Mk5EHM – An extended GVW version of Mk5E<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
- RG-31 Mk5LHM – Pick-Op version of Mk5E<ref name=":0" />
- RG-31 Mk5 Ambulance<ref name=":0" />
- RG-31 Mk6E – Enhanced crew protection
- RG-31 Charger – US Army version of the Mk3 with a Detroit Diesel engine and Mk5 with a Cummins engine
- RG-31M – features a military wiring harness, central tire inflation and several other new characteristics. This vehicle has a crew of 5.<ref name="defupd"/>
- RG-31 Agrab; Mortar carrier version with SRAMS (Super Rapid Advanced Mortar System).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Operators
- Template:BDI:
- Burundi Army
- 12x RG-31 Nyala<ref name=IISS>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Burundi Army
- Template:CAN:
- Canadian Forces
- 75 RG-31 Mk3 with Protector (RWS) Remote Weapon Station; replaced by Textron Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle
- London Police Service
- 1x RG-31 Mk3A, used by the Emergency Response Team (replaced sometime around 2020 due to maintenance costs and was sold to Stratford Police Service)
- Durham Regional Police Service
- 1x RG-31 Mk3A, Tactical Rescue Vehicle donated by General Dynamics to the Tactical Response Unit
- Canadian Forces
- Template:COL:
- National Army of Colombia
- 4× RG-31 Nyala
- National Army of Colombia
- Template:ESP: 150× RG-31 Mk5E Nyala with Samson remote Weapon Station (+ option for 30 more) already deployed in Lebanon and Afghanistan.
- Template:MLI: 5× RG-31 Nyala
- Template:NGA: 1× RG-31 Nyala
- Template:INA
- Template:Flag
- Template:RSA
- Template:RWA: 76× RG-31 Nyala
- Template:SEN
- Template:SOM<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:SWZ: 7× RG-31 Nyala Mk5E, currently used by the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF).<ref name="sipri2">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Template:UAE: 253× customized RG-31 Mk5<ref name="sipri2" />
- Template:UNO: 30× RG-31 Nyala
- Template:USA:
- US SOCOM
- 50× Mk5A1S
- US Army
- 148× RG-31 Mk3 Charger,
- 257× Mk5A1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 111× Mk5E<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- USMC
- 12× Mk5A's (MRAP Cat I)
- 1385× Mk5E's (MRAP Cat II)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Academi
- US SOCOM
- Template:Flag: 1 RG-31 Nyala in a combat ambulance configuration was provided to Ukraine by Spain as military aid.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Combat history
- Afghanistan – Canada, (including 5 leased to Netherlands) (ISAF), United States, and Spain<ref>"Chacón afirma que el blindado evitó un "mal mayor" en el ataque de Afganistán", La Vanguardia, 19 June 2011</ref>
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – UNPROFOR
- Ethiopia / Eritrea – Canada
- Georgia –- UN
- Iraq – United States
- Colombian Armed Conflict
- Ivorian Civil War
- Ivory Coast – UNOCI
- Kosovo – KFOR
- Lebanon – UNIFIL
- Uganda - Uganda People's Defence Forces
- Yemen - United Arab Emirates as part of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
- Mali - MINUSMA
- Syria - UNDOF, later captured by rebel groups, eventually captured by Syrian ArmyTemplate:Cn
See also
- Other wheeled APCs and IFVs developed in South Africa
- General
References
Template:MRAP vehicles Template:South African AFV Template:Canadian Forces Land Force Command Template:Modern IFV and APC