Paramount Group new Mbombe 4 secures first customer at IDEX 2019

Paramount Group has launched its new next generation armoured personnel carrier, Mbombe 4 at the United Arab Emirates at IDEX 2019, the largest defense and security Expo in the Middle East.

Paramount unveiled the 4×4 variant of the Mbombe for the first time at the Abu Dhabi event. 

The new 4×4 Mbombe 4 armoured vehicle is ideally suited to rapid and large-scale portable manufacturing in customer countries. Founder and Executive Chairman of Paramount Group Ivor Ichikowitz of said had been designed for the operational requirements of Middle East countries.

The Mbombe 4×4 draws on the heritage of the Mbombe 8×8, launched in 2016, and the Mbombe 6×6, which is in service. “The Mbombe 4×4 completes the highly advanced Mbombe family of combat vehicles that are designed to optimally meet the increasing demand for outstanding protection, yet versatility in conventional and asymmetric warfare, counter terrorism and peacekeeping missions.”

Ichikowitz disclosed that he expected there would be regional demand for 4,000-5,000 of the vehicles over the next ten years.

“The UAE is one of the most sophisticated procurement markets of defense equipment in the world. We are very privileged that our newly launched, next generation armoured vehicle has been selected by the UAE’s Armed Forces.

Ivor Ichikowitz

“We are very proud of our strong partnership and are committed to strengthening this long into the future. We are dedicated to developing advanced defense capabilities and next generation technologies which will support our regional partners.”

The Mbombe 4 is fully industrialised, allowing for efficient manufacture in customer countries around the world, harnessing Paramount Group’s proven portable manufacturing model.

Displaying a striking new design, packed with the latest technologies and capabilities required for the modern battlefield, the Mbombe 4 offers outstanding levels of protection, mobility and flexibility.

The platform offers very high levels of ballistic and mine protection (e.g. crew compartment STANAG 4569-Level 3, blast protection STANAG 4569-Level 4a & 4b) and protection against a 50kg TNT side blast or IED/roadside bomb. Its applique armour packages can provide higher levels of ballistic protection (up to level 4) and mine protection as required by the customer.

Other key features of the Mbombe 4 include a burst speed of 140km/hr, ensuring exceptional levels of mobility, a unique, rear-door ramp design proven in combat on 6×6 and 8×8 IFVs, with the vehicle fully operational in winter conditions of -20 Celsius to desert conditions of +55 Celsius. The 16 tonnes Mbombe 4 provides a payload of nearly three tonnes, encapsulating weapon systems, ammunition, crew and supplies.

The Mbombe family enables Paramount Group to provide customers with a comprehensive family of 4 x 4, 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 IFVs, which share over 70% of common components to reduce through life costs and ensures efficient training and logistics. This also presents a unique opportunity for the global market, affording a prospective end-user of all three vehicles significant savings in the areas of maintenance and logistical support.

The Mbombe 4 has been designed to accommodate a wide range of payloads and turrets. The onboard mission computer and interface system is able to integrate with both Western and Eastern-made weapon systems. The vehicle is further fitted with the latest generation navigational, crew comfort and security systems, with examples including a driver-assist camera system, winterisation kit, vehicle location and tracking systems, a NATO standard tow-hitch, radios and intercoms systems and a Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS).