Paramount Group, the global technology and aerospace
business, has announced that the Mbombe 4x4, the newest
addition to its advanced Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)
family of vehicles, has received final certification for the
independently verified blast tests which exceeded the
criteria for NATO STANAG 4569 – one of the highest levels of
protection that can be achieved by an armoured vehicle in
its class.
This announcement follows the exceptional performance of the
Mbombe 4x4, which features unique flat-floor mine protection
technologies pioneered by Paramount Group, during a series
of explosives tests designed and executed by Landward
Sciences, a programme of the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s leading and
independent scientific research body.
The blast tests are performed in accordance with the highest
international specifications, namely, STANAG 4569, a NATO
standardisation agreement that institutes benchmarks for
occupant protections in vehicles such as the Mbombe 4x4, in
this case including three 10 kg TNT explosions under the
wheels and the hull, and one 50kg side blast test, carried
out at a 5 meter distance to imitate an Improvised Explosive
Device (IED).
The Mbombe 4 was designed and developed specifically for
local manufacturing in customer countries, in response to
the increasing requirement from Governments for the
development of their own defence industrial capabilities.
The vehicle has successfully completed a series of summer
trials with several armed forces around the world. Featuring
next-generation design, advanced technologies and highest
levels of protection, the result of decades of real-world
battlefield and asymmetrical warfare experience, the Mbombe
4x4 is ready to serve customers.
Though the Mbombe 4 is equipped for full mission capability
and maximum versatility, it has a singular mission – soldier
survivability. Protecting the lives of combat personnel is
our utmost priority; our commitment to this cause is
reflected throughout our entire portfolio. In doing so, we
today serve proudly as world leaders in the research,
development and manufacturing of protection technologies.
As part of the blast testing programme, the integrity of the
Mbombe 4 was subjected to both intense experimentations and
post-test evaluations that took several months to complete,
with final inspections of the Mbombe 4 yielding outstanding
results. Each of these tests is intended to validate
explosives resistance and occupant protection capacities for
logistics and light-armoured vehicles by pushing unmodified
units to their functional limits, using expertly controlled
trials and post-test evaluations.
Key features of Mbombe 4 also include an unique, rear-door
ramp design, which has been proven in combat on 6x6 and 8x8
IFVs. The ease of access provided by the rear-door ensures
the rapid deployment of the crew while the vehicle is static
or on the move.
The Mbombe 4 performs with a burst speed of 140km/hr, an
800km operating range and an independent suspension system
designed to optimally meet the increasing demand for
outstanding protection yet adaptability in conventional and
asymmetrical warfare alike. The mine resistant carrier is
functionally versatile over challenging terrains and fully
operational across a myriad of contemporary and diverse
counter-terrorism, border patrol, counter-insurgency,
internal security and peacekeeping missions.
Both the launch of Paramount Group’s Mbombe 4 and its first
customer, the United Arab Emirates were announced at the
2019 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX)
in Abu Dhabi.
!!!!!!!!
Paramount Group is the African-based global technology and
aerospace business. It is a leader in defence and security
innovation and is a trusted partner to sovereign governments
across the globe. Paramount specialises in the creation of
portable manufacturing facilities through technology and
skills transfer, resulting in new local capabilities and
sustainable jobs, proven to not only benefit local defence
industrial capabilities but economic diversification and
growth.
Paramount Group has been responsible for the development and
production of a broad range of highly advanced armored and
mine protected vehicles that are in operation around the
world. The family of APC and combat vehicles which has been
developed from clean-sheet design is at the vanguard of
armored vehicle technologies. These vehicles have been
designed and developed to meet the increasing demand for
multi-role, high mobility, and mine hardened platforms,
providing a solution to the ever-changing demands of the
global battlefield.
