BAE Systems has acquired the South African designed and developed Iguana light armoured vehicle and will rebrand it the RG34.

The vehicle will be marketed to military, peace-keeping and security authorities globally.

Iguana was developed by IADSA under contract from Sabiex in Belgium. BAE Systems acquired the intellectual property from Sabiex under an agreement for an undisclosed amount, signed earlier this week.

BAE Systems will continue to develop the RG34 to further enhance its operational versatility and appeal.

One of the RG34’s unique features is its specially designed, multi-link hydro-pneumatic suspension, which is mounted on a very rigid structure. This provides the vehicle with excellent road performance, a small turning circle and comfortable clearance over humps.

The RG34 features a specially designed, multi-link hydro-pneumatic suspension mounted on a very rigid structure. This provides the vehicle with excellent road performance and clearance over humps.

The RG34’s large diameter wheels and long suspension travel give it a superb off-road capability and enable it to drive over or through obstacles.While it presents a low silhouette, the RG34 affords occupants an excellent field of vision and comfort able interior; easing fatigue on long patrols. Its power ful intercooled turbo-diesel engine and 5-speed automatic gearbox give the RG34 excellent fuel economy. When fitted with a long-range fuel tank, the RG34 is able to cover distances of up to 1,000 km before refueling. The RG34 range includes the armoured lightweight amphibious variant (with superior allround protection) and the mine protected variant.

At the heart of the RG34’s design is its welded monocoque hull. This is manufactured from high quality ballistic steel, protecting the occupants against all-round direct fire, airburst fragments as well as AP and AT mines. Like all other RG-family members, the RG34 was conceived to provide unmatched reliability and easy repair. Central to the vehicle’s engineering concept is the incorporation of proven, reliable and widely-available off-the-shelf components and spare parts. Viewed together with its design integrity, RG34 operators can be assured of an unequalled level of confidence in their asset’s reliability.

The RG34 is a permanent 4x4, but designed with inherent upgrade potential to offer unrivalled versatility through payload capacity. The vehicle can be fitted with a number of defence suites, surveillance and weapon systems, allowing it to be configured to operate in today’s battlefields, which vary in terms of technological and threat sophistication. The high power-to-weight ratio and advanced suspension system provide the stable platform for integrating a variety of weapon stations for various combat roles.