BAE Systems acquires South African designed Iguana Light Armoured Vehicle

BAE Systems has acquired the South African-designed and developed 'Iguana' light armoured vehicle, developed by IADSA, under contract from Sabiex in Belgium.

BAE Systems has acquired the intellectual property from Sabiex under an agreement for an undisclosed sum, signed earlier this week. The acquisition of the armoured vehicle is in keping with the company's strategy for developing its South African market capabilities.

Following the acquisition, BAE will will rebrand the Iguanan as RG34 and market it to military, peace-keeping and security authorities globally.

BAE Systems will continue to develop the RG34 to further enhance its operational versatility and appeal. ''Growing our business organically and through acquisitions is a vital strategy for us. Acquiring a mature, light armoured vehicle such as the RG34 to complement our product range, is an important step that will provide additional growth opportunities for the South African business,'' said Johan Steyn, MD, BAE Systems' Land Systems South Africa business.

''We acquired the vehicle and are rebranding it as the RG34 because it enables us to expand our range of successful and world-acclaimed South African designed and built RG vehicles,'' explained Steyn.

BAE Systems displayed the RG34 at at Gallagher Estates, South Africa during the two-day DefenceWeb Peacekeeping Conference, held on 24 and 25 June 2009.