Paramount Group, the African-based global defence and aerospace company, today unveiled its family of Mbombe Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs) at the AAD 2016 expo, taking place at Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa.
That reported by www.paramountgroup.com.
Showcased together for the first time, the Mbombe vehicle range comprising the Mbombe 4 (or Marauder XT in certain markets), the Mbombe 6 and the Mbombe 8, represent the pinnacle of land system technologies and can be modified to serve as either combat vehicles or armored personnel carriers. The vehicles were developed to meet the increasing demand for multi-role, high mobility and mine hardened platforms, and for the changing demands of the global battlefield. The vehicles are sought after by governments around the world for their sophisticated adaptability, unprecedented protection and affordability.
Unveiled in Africa for the first time, the Mbombe 8 is the newest and ‘big brother’ of the Mbombe family. The major advantage of the Mbombe family is the 80% commonality that exists between the technologies and components used in the three vehicles. This presents significant cost benefits to armed forces due to greater efficiencies and significant savings in maintenance and logistical support.
Ben Jansen, CEO of Paramount Combat Systems said: “The development of Mbombe 8 has enabled Paramount Group to provide potential customers with a complete family of 4 x 4, 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 ICVs which share over 80% of common components to reduce through life costs and make for easier training and logistics. This commonality relates to both the driveline aggregates, as well as the fact that all three vehicles utilise a ‘conventional’ or ‘in-line’ automotive driveline configuration, positioning the powerpack at the front of the vehicle and along its centre line.
“This configuration results in far greater efficiency in terms of the transfer of power from the powerpack to the wheels, as the loss of power associated with a second transfer gearbox necessary for ‘unconventional’ drivelines, such as with side-engined vehicles, is eliminated. This presents a unique opportunity for our global market, affording a prospective end-user of all three vehicles significant savings in the areas of maintenance and logistical support.”
Paramount Combat Systems (the newly formed integrated business comprising Paramount Land Systems and Paramount Innovation and Design) has developed and produced a broad range of advanced armored and mine protected vehicles that are in use from South America to Central Asia. Global demand for Paramount Group innovations like the Mbombe has enabled the company to grow significantly in recent years and attract leading global strategic partners. The Mbombe family capitalizes on South Africa’s expertise in asymmetric warfare technologies.
The Mbombe 8 is builds on Paramount’s Mbombe 6 that employs an innovative new form of construction to give unprecedented levels of protection, while keeping profile to a minimum. The 8×8 also draws on the company’s experience of designing the highly effective and battle-tested Marauder and Matador mine-resistant vehicles.
Key features of the Mbombe 8 include:
- Gross weight of 28 tonnes and kerb weight of 19 tonnes
- Payload of 9 tonnes which covers weapon system, ammunition, crew and supplies
- Powered by a 6 cylinder engine turbo charged diesel engine
- Six speed automatic transmission
- Max speed of 110km/h
- Operating range: 800 km
- High levels of ballistic and mine protection: ballistic protection: STANAG 4569 Level 3+ and blast protection: STANAG 4569 Level 4a and 4b
- Wide range of turrets and weapon stations can be integrated
- The cooling systems and driveline have been tested and proven in winter conditions of -55 Celsius and desert conditions of +55 Celsius
- Large internal volume due to position of powerpack
The Founder and Executive Chairman of Paramount Group, Ivor Ichikowitz said: “This is a momentous occasion not only for Paramount Group, but also for South Africa, which pioneered landmine protected technologies. In six years we have designed, developed and manufactured three high speed, long-range and low profile armored combat vehicles, the Mbombe 4, 6 and 8. Without exception, we’ve earned an international reputation for pushing the boundaries and creating armored vehicles that are groundbreaking in their design, protection levels and mobility.”
“Paramount Group’s success is ultimately the success of African innovation. South Africa has been leading the world in armored vehicle and land mine protected technologies for decades and we’re proud to take this heritage into the future.” Ichikowitz concluded.
