Paramount Group has developed a new add-on armor for its next generation Mbombe 4 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), offering protection against all Level 3 threats within the NATO standards agreement STANAG 4569, including multi-hit ballistic threats, artillery shell fragments, and close proximity Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosions.
Designed to be quickly replaceable in the field, the add-on armor provides a lightweight shielding system that adds the least possible weight to the vehicle while providing maximum security. The design includes the same full levels of protection for the engine and engine bay, without decreasing the effectiveness of the engine cooling system.
Already recognized as one of the best protected armored vehicles in the world, the newly tested and certified add-on armor increases the Mbombe 4’s protection. The Mbombe 4 received its final certification after successfully completing a series of independently certified blast tests designed and executed by the Landward Sciences division of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa’s leading and independent scientific research body.
The blast tests included two 10 kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) explosions under the wheels and the hull, and one 50kg side blast test carried out at a 5 meter distance for IED simulation, equating to STANAG 4569 Level 4a and Level 4b mine and blast certification.
“The Mbombe 4 is the result of decades of real-world battlefield experience and the company’s commitment to perpetual innovation,” said Paramount Group’s Land Systems Executive Chairman, John Craig.
“Providing next-generation survivability and mission efficiency is a cornerstone of our Land Systems division. We are dedicated to continually researching and developing highly-customized solutions to meet 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.”
The Mbombe 4 offers a unique commonality of components across the entire Mbombe family of armored vehicles, which lessens the costs associated with support, repairs and training. Key features of Mbombe 4 include Paramount Group-pioneered flat-floor mine protection technologies and a distinct, rear-door ramp design. 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.
