Canada in Afghanistan

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

GENERAL DYNAMICS AWARDED $60 MILLION CONTRACT TO SUPPLY RG-31 MINE PROTECTED VEHICLES TO THE CANADIAN MILITARY –

The Government of Canada has awarded a CAD $60.3 (US $51.3 million) contract to General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada to provide 50 RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicles with an option for 25 additional vehicles. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company’s parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics.

Under this contract, General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada will provide program management and engineering and logistics support while BAE Land Systems OMC of South Africa will manufacture the vehicles. The vehicles will incorporate a Kongsberg Protector M151 Remote Weapon Station, equipped with a day and night sighting system, which allows the operator to fire the weapon while remaining protected within the vehicle.

Deliveries will occur from February to April 2006.

The RG-31 tactical vehicle offers excellent ballistic and mine blast protection, and will be used by the Canadian Forces in their upcoming operations in Afghanistan. (Source: PRNewswire)

It sounds like we're reorienting ourselves to the realities of Peacemaking rather than the old fallacy of Peacekeeping. Bloody high-time, as I see it; bless our soldiers who are sent into harm's way.