×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

Paramount Mbombe


Wheeled Multirole Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle


South Africa | 2010



"The Paramount Group Mbombe is represented by a four- and six-wheeled design offering that utilizes a low-profile and mine-resistant qualities."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Paramount Mbombe 4 Wheeled Multirole Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle.
1 x 6-cylinder diesel-fueled engine developing 450 horsepower.
Installed Power
93 mph
150 kph
Road Speed
435 miles
700 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the Paramount Mbombe 4 Wheeled Multirole Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle.
2
(MANNED)
Crew
19.4 ft
5.9 meters
O/A Length
8.5 ft
2.6 meters
O/A Width
8.0 ft
2.45 meters
O/A Height
33,069 lb
15,000 kg | 16.5 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Paramount Mbombe Wheeled Multirole Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle.
Optional and variable based on mission requirements. Ranging from 7.62mm to 14.5mm caliber weapons with support for Remote Weapon Station (RWS).
AMMUNITION:
Dependent upon armament fit.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Paramount Mbombe family line.
Mbombe - Base Series Name; available in APC, IFV, fire support, command, 120mm mortar carrier, and anti-armor forms.
Mbombe 4 - Four-wheeled variant
Mbombe 6 - Six-wheeled variant with extended hull and additional axle.
Mbombe 8 - Eight-wheeled Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) with variable weapons fit (optional turret).
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/01/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

South Africa fought in the Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979) and it was during this time that thought was given to development of dedicated mine-resistant vehicles. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the class evolved to encompass even more battlefield roles such as general security, border protection, Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), and Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). During the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the urban fighting that followed, a new term was created to describe a whole new line of mine resistant vehicles - MRAP ("Mine-Resistant, Ambush Protected"). Today, many firms beyond those of South Africa now ply their wares specifically in the MRAP market. With the shift from expensive, tracked heavy armored vehicles to relatively inexpensive, wheeled forms currently taking root in Europe and elsewhere, the MRAP remains an important cog in the modern war machine.

Paramount Group made headlines in 2011 when it unveiled an all-new aircraft design through the AHRLAC ("Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft") as a low-cost solution to ongoing Close Air Support (CAS) requirements for many nations. The type has garnered considerable interest to date as it evolves in development. Not content with showcasing merely aerial solutions, the company has thrown its hat into the MRAP ring with development of a series of armored vehicles including the Mbombe - a multirole wheeled system available in two main body forms with inherent adaptability to suit customer requirements.

The basic chassis is offered in a 4x4 and 6x6 wheeled mold as the "Mbombe 4" and "Mbombe 6" respectively. The most obvious difference between these two main variants is the addition of another wheel pair for the Mbombe 6 along its extended hull and chassis which adds internal space and more hull roof and hull side surface. The rear of both vehicles feature bulletproof vision blocks along the hull sides and an entry/exit door at the rear face. Ground clearance is expectedly excellent and the hull floor of the crew/passenger cabin utilizes a new flat-bottom blast protected design to help contend with blast forces from a hidden land mine or IED. A low overall silhouette for the vehicle assists in concealing it at range and in low-lying brush. Mobility is aided through an all-wheel drive system while a proven drivetrain provides the reliability required of such vehicles in-the-field. In addition to its touted land capabilities, the Mbombe has been designed with an inherent water fording quality, able to traverse water sources up to 3-feet deep without prior preparation by the crew.

The base form of the Mbombe family is the APC while specialist models include the IFV, a Command Vehicle (CV), a 120mm Mortar Carrier, and a mobile Fire Support (FS) platform. The APC model can be outfitted with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun for local defense while carrying between six and eight passengers depending on body structure (4x4 or 6x6). The IFV model adds a manned or remotely-operated turret mounting up to a 30mm autocannon with coaxial 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun to contend with light armored vehicles and infantry in short-to-medium engagement ranges. Its passenger-carrying capability is only slightly reduced. The CV supports a Remote Weapon Station (RWS) mounting a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun for basic defense and includes an expanded communications fit. The mortar carrier features a two-panel door over the rear section of the hull roof which opens to reveal a heavy-class field mortar for indirect fire support duty. The Anti-Armor Support Vehicle (AASV) form is given a four-tube Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) launching capability through a powered turret as well as a 12.7mm coaxial machine gun. The crew is afforded a full day/night optics fit.

The Mbombe 4 showcases a combat weight of 15,000 kilograms, 150 kmh road speed, and 700 kilometer road range. The Mbombe 6 sees a 22,5000 kilogram increased combat weight total with reduced road speed (105 kmh) though its range is expanded to 1,000 kilometers. Both versions feature run-flat tires, a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS - optional), support for add-on armor kits for improved protection against IEDs and RPG attacks (optional), an all-modern integrated Battlefield Management System (BMS - optional), radio/intercom system (optional), and inherent blast protection up to level 4a/4b. An air conditioning system is also provided for crew and passenger comfort. Both body types use a diesel engine of 450 horsepower output.

Jordan has 50 Mbombe 6 vehicles on order with production to be handled locally.

The Mbombe 8 (detailed elsewhere on this site) is the newest Mbombe family vehicle debuted in June of 2016.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Paramount Mbombe. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 350 Units

Contractor(s): Paramount Group - South Africa
National flag of Jordan National flag of Kazakhstan National flag of South Africa

[ Jordan (Mbombe 6); Kazakhstan; South Africa ]
1 / 2
Image of the Paramount Mbombe
Image from official Paramount Group marketing material.
2 / 2
Image of the Paramount Mbombe
Image from official Paramount Group marketing material.

Going Further...
The Paramount Mbombe Wheeled Multirole Mine-Resistant Armored Vehicle appears in the following collections:
HOME
ARMOR INDEX
ARMOR BY COUNTRY
VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE VEHICLES
VEHICLES BY CONFLICT
VEHICLES BY TYPE
VEHICLES BY DECADE
MODERN TANKS
MODERN ARTILLERY
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)