South African
company Paramount Group has secured a hat-trick of deals at this year’s
International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi this week
as it seeks to extend cooperation in the Middle East.
On 23 February,
the company signed a contract with Jordan’s King Abdullah II Design and
Development Bureau (KADDB) for 50 6x6 Mbombe protected patrol vehicles with
KADDB CEO Major General Omar Al Kaldi and Paramount Group chairman Ivor
Ichikowitz agreeing the contract which will see manufacturing of the vehicles
in Jordan.
“The production
of Mbombe in Jordan signals an important milestone in the continuing growth of
the defence industrial capability in the Middle East. The Mbombe will become
the platform for the future 6x6 requirements of the Jordanian Armed Forces,” Al
Kaldi explained.
Meanwhile,
Ichikowitz added: “Jordan has a strategic position and role in the Middle East
in building stability and security across the region.”
The agreement
follows testing of the Mbombe vehicle in harsh desert conditions in Jordan and
the UAE where temperatures reach 50C. The vehicle was also subjected to -50C in
Kazakhstan during winter trials.
“The nature of
threats that armed forces in the Middle East are facing has intensified. Armed
forces demand world-leading technologies and capabilities to combat these
threats.”
The Mbombe
vehicle comprises flat-hull mine protection technology and provides protection
against 14.5mm heavy machine gun rounds as well as similar levels of protection
against 155mm artillery bursts. Its Level 4 mine protection also allows
protection against 10kg mines detonating under the hull or wheels. According to
Paramount Group, it can also withstand a 50kg TNT blast.
Production of
Mbombe in Jordan is schedule to begin immediately.
Additionally, the
company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian company Motor Sich
JSC to cooperate in production and modernisation of helicopters and aviation
engineering products.
Present at the
ceremony was Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko who saw the companies commit
to future transfers of technologies regarding rotary wing systems.
Paramount Group
designed the Super Hind helicopter while Motor Sich JSC concentrates on
helicopter maintenance and repair as well as engine manufacturing.
Finally,
Paramount Group revealed plans to build a new factory and runway for its
Advanced High Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft (AHRLAC) as it prepares
to target the Middle East market.
The aircraft
completed its first flight in July and has since completed a total of 65 hours
of test flying. Evaluation has now extended onto handling, airframe systems,
centre of gravity, performance ranges and rough field capabilities, a company
spokesman informed Military Technology.
“We have seen particular interest from across the Middle
East region. We have always understood the strong relevance of AHRLAC as an
innovative, multi-role and cost-effective solution to the environments and
threats that air forces are facing in the region.”
The company has identified a location in South Africa
for the manufacturing site, details of which remain undisclosed.
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