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| The Mbombe 4, MRAP Type Combat Vehicle From South Africa |
International Military - Defense company Paramount Group from Africa first introduced the Mbombe 4, an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) combat vehicle at the African defense and aerospace exhibition, AAD 2014 at Waterkloof Air Force Base, South Africa.
Two years later, at the same event, AAD 2016, Paramount Group brought back Mbombe 4, this time with a new facelift. Unfortunately, at that time Mbombe 4 did not receive much response, both to meet domestic and export needs.
Furthermore, at the IDEX 2019 defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi which took place in February, Paramount Group again displayed the Mbombe 4 with a new exterior and interior appearance, which could be called the all new Mbombe 4.
To attract potential buyers, especially from other countries, Paramount Group offers through industrial cooperation mechanisms including technology transfer. This collaboration model for Paramount Group is not new, because it has often been done for previous products.
Take, for example, the manufacture of Barys IFV 8X8 and Arlan 4X4 by the Kazakh military through local industry Khazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE). Another example, is the manufacture of a family of supporting vehicles with protection Belrex with ST Engineering in Singapore.
Besides being able to create more jobs in the buyer's country, this kind of production model is considered more profitable because the manufacture of spare parts can also be done in the buyer's country. This means that the sustainability of the use of defense equipment will be more guaranteed.
This offer through industrial cooperation including technology transfer for Mbombe 4 has succeeded in luring India which is produced by Bharat Forge of Kalyani Group in Pune. Paramount and Kalyani agreed to combine their technology, capabilities and expertise to manufacture these armored vehicles in India.
The vehicle, which was later given a new name as Kalyani M4, has its specifications and equipment adapted for Indian conditions. After conducting extensive trials in Ladakh, the Indian Army ordered 27 Kalyani M4s in early 2021, under emergency procurement amid the Sino-Indian Border Standoff in a contract worth US$23.6 million.
Luck returned to Paramount Group with its Mbombe 4, this time came a proposal from Thailand's White Elephant Country. To coincide with the Defense and Security 2022 exhibition taking place from August 29 to September 1 in Bangkok, Paramount Group announced its partnership with the Thai Institute of Defense Technology (DTI) and Jatunapas to manufacture the Mbombe 4 in Thailand.
The Thai version, which is named the D-Lion, is intended to meet the needs of the Thai military, both the Army and the Marine Corps, especially for use in the conflict areas of Southern Thailand.
In terms of durability, the Mbombe 4 family has STANAG 4569 Level 3 ballistic immunity and mine blast and IED protection on the STANAG 4569 Level 4a & 4b capable of dealing with explosions equivalent to 50 kg of TNT from the side.
This massive 16 tonne combat vehicle is powered by a 465 hp turbo diesel engine. Able to dibesut up to a maximum speed of 140 km / h and explore as far as 800 km.
The Mbombe 4 troop transport (APC) variant can accommodate up to 10 soldiers including the driver and commander. As self-defense and combat weapons, the Mbombe 4 family, Kalyani M4, and D-Lion can be equipped with a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) with a choice of weapons in the form of 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm caliber machine guns.