US Marines selects Rafael’s Golan armored vehicle

US Marines selects Rafael’s Golan armored vehicle
The Marines will initially buy 60 Golans for $37 million for use in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Amnon Barzilai 26 Feb 07 14:28

The US Marine Corps has selected the Golan multi-purpose modular armored vehicle made by Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. and PVI of the US for use in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Marines will initially buy 60 Golans for $37 million.

The Golan is a new wheeled armored car for transporting troops and other uses, such as a command vehicle, ambulance or intelligence gathering. The vehicle’s mix of reactive modular armor tiles and passive modular armor can handle a broad range of threats, such as roadside bombs, RPGs and other anti-armor ordnance found in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Several months ago, the Marines sought to buy 4,000 armored vehicles, and published a request for proposals for a vehicle capable of meeting the threats faced by forces in the field.

Rafael said that the contract was an extraordinary achievement for Israel’s defense industry in general and for Rafael in particular, especially given the competition and protection specifications made by the Marines. The company said it hoped that the Golan would soon enter service with the IDF.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news

Ellie