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Background — Armoured Patrol Vehicle Candidates — RG-31 Nyala

Update: note that, along with a mid-engined RG35 RPU, a newer model Nyala – the RG31 Mk5 EM – has been submitted for DND's TAPV.

The name Nyala was familiar to Canadians at the time of the APV contest even if the RG-31 designation wasn't. But RG-31 was simply the South African model number for the CF route proving Nyala. [1]  Considering the RG-31's commonality with  in-service CF Nyalas (and the Mambas which preceded them), it was no surprise when it won the APV contest. RG-31 retains its  predecessors'  mine-resistant  hull and lightly-armoured sides. Where it differs is in armament: gun ports in its armour glass [2] augment a Remote Weapon Station.

The APV Kongsberg M151 RWS was already integrated into RG-31s before the APV contest began  ( it has since been applied to LAV-RWS  and  LAV Engs). The speed with which the APV contest was held would have dictated DND's choice of RWS for the CF ( the Protected Weapons Station was then the standard CF RWS). Like the PWS, an RWS can mount a C6 or M2HB. [3]

BAE Land Systems OMC [2]  RG-32M1  —  Specifications   Complement:   1+10 as troop carrier / 1+4 for patrol   Powerplant:     92kW (123hp) 5.7 litre 6-cyl Daimler OM352A   (or 95kW / 125hp US Caterpillar) turbo diesel   Transmission:   4 speed automatic, 1 reverse gear   Max speed:   100 km/h  /  0-60 km/h  30.5 seconds   Protection:     (ballistic) 7.62x39mm AK, 5.56x45mm NATO   (mine) 14kg (under wheel), 7kg (under belly)   Usable payload:   1600 kg (usable payload)

The RG-31's hull  (and armour glass) protects against  rifle-calibre bullets but was designed to deflect a blast from below. This works well against traditional landmines and pressure- plate  improvised explosive devices but  less successfully  against side- blast IEDs or the very large devices meant  to counter tanks.  Like other APV candidates, a logistics variant is available but more relevant to TAPV than to the APV.

[1] The lineage of  South African mine-resistant vehicles can be confusing. Earlier CF Mamba and Nyala route-provers were both built by OMC (now part of BAE Systems). They are conceptually related but the Nyala is somewhat larger. To further confuse matters, the makers also applied the name Nyala at times to their larger RG-12 riot-control vehicle. The US military has used  Nyala,  Charger, and  Armadillo for its various RG-31 models while North American agents, GDLS-Canada, have now dropped the hyphen in RG31 for no apparent reason. [2] Gun ports in the laminated armour glass windows have always been a option for the Nyala. The route-proving role of the 3 existing CF Nyalas suggested that gun ports were unnecessary. Once the Nyalas were pressed into patrol duty, the roof hatch was handy for the C9. [3] The CF now have three RWS types in service  –  the Rafael-designed PWS, the Norwegian M151, and  the Rheinmetall Canada Nanuk.