South Africa-based Paramount Group has developed a new add-on armour for its Mbombe 4 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
The add-on armour offers protection against all Level 3 threats, including artillery shell fragments, multi-hit ballistic threats and improvised explosive device (IED) explosions, within the Nato standardisation agreement STANAG 4569.
It provides a lightweight shielding system that does not increase the vehicle’s weight and can be replaced rapidly on the battlefield.
The capability has received final certification after completing a set of independently conducted blast tests.
According to the company, blast trials included two 10kg trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosions under the wheels and the hull.
A 50kg side blast test was also carried out at a 5m distance for IED stimulation.
The tests were designed and executed by the Landward Sciences division of South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Paramount Group Land Systems executive chairman John Craig said: “The Mbombe 4 is the result of decades of real-world battlefield experience and the company’s commitment to perpetual innovation.
“Providing next-generation survivability and mission efficiency is a cornerstone of our land systems division.
“We are dedicated to continually researching and developing highly customised solutions to meeting the asymmetrical security challenges of 2021 and into the next decades.
“This is a mission imperative to our business and one that has ensured steady growth in our partnerships worldwide.”
Mbombe 4 is the newest in the Mbombe family of armoured vehicles manufactured by Paramount.
The vehicle joins its predecessors Mbombe armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) and Mbombe 8 infantry combat vehicle (ICV).
In February this year, Paramount Group and Sarcos Robotics partnered to bring robotic systems for defence customers in the Middle East and Africa.
