Lurker4Long:
Paramount launches Maatla light vehicle

Paramount Group subsidiary Paramount Land Systems is for the first time unveiling its new Maatla 4×4 Light Protected Vehicle (LPV), which is aimed at the rapidly growing lightweight and more affordable segment of the armoured vehicle market.

The Maatla (meaning Power in Setswana) has already received orders for 50 vehicles from two customers, Paramount said.

“The latest addition to Paramount’s family of protected vehicles is already in production for an African country with one of the most challenging, rugged and remote environments for land forces to operate in,” the company stated.

Eric Ichikowitz, Senior Vice President, Paramount International, stated: “Our customers can now take full advantage of three decades of armoured vehicle innovation, engineering excellence and market leadership, but in a lighter class vehicle designed in response to changing customer requirements. We are very excited to offer border patrol, gendarmerie, police units and armed forces in Africa and around the world with best-in-class technologies and capability. The vehicle’s lighter weight and commercial components ultimately enables greater customer affordability and faster production rates.”

The Maatla has been manufactured on a commercial vehicle chassis for proven reliability and low cost. It features “Smart Floor” technology, enabling the seating to be quickly removed and the vehicle to be configured as either an ambulance, command vehicle or customisable for other mission requirements, such as border patrol, military support, policing, or peacekeeping missions. Day/night vision devices and extra sensors can also be fitted to provide 24/7 operability.

The Maatla provides ballistic and blast protections to STANAG 4569 Level 1, and can protect against handguns and other small calibre ball rounds. It also provides underbelly protection against M26 hand grenades or a blast equivalent.

Mobility and agility

The Maatla can reach a road speed of up to 100 km/h, with a cruising range of up to 600 km when traveling at 80 km/h, and a fording depth of up to 750 mm without preparation. The vehicle is fitted with a 2-speed transfer case and 3 differential locks for difficult terrain. The vehicle can be operated in environments with temperatures ranging from -10°C to + 55°C.

Deon Grobler, CEO of Paramount Land Systems, stated that, “We are very excited to diversify our product range, compete in this new class of Light Protected Vehicles, and introduce customers with these requirements into our world beating family of protected vehicles. The Maatla is a light armour, multi-purpose vehicle, offering excellent cross-country performance and reliability. Designed to handle a two-tonne payload, the Maatla offers near infinite-configurability in terms of onboarding mission specific equipment, weapons, and armour scalability.”

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/paramount-launches-maatla-light-vehicle/

Over the years, the main industry players were TFM Defence & Security, Sandock Austral, OMC Engineering, Truckmakers, Gear Ratio (specialising in transmissions and powerpacks), Henred Fruehauf, UCDD, and Ermetek. Mergers, aquisitions, and disposals complicate the corporate history of modern South African AFV design and manufacture.

Integrated Convoy Protection: The company is particularly renowned for its REVA Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle that has been labelled the most impressive Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) used in combat today. It has been exported to the Middle East & Asia.
OTT Technologies: Their robust Puma M36 Mine and Blast Protected Recovery Vehicle is highly acclaimed worldwide for its multifunctional capability. It is also used by the likes of the United Nations (UN) and the Kenyan Army.
Saab Grintek Defence: A market leader who was recently awarded best export company for two years consecutively, Saab Grintek Defence will show their cutting-edge electronic self-protection system for combat vehicles.
Paramount Group: Another global aerospace & defence company that has its roots in Africa & that has a sterling track record for innovating trailblazing technologies. Their 6x6 Mbombe, a highly agile infantry fighting vehicle, is expected to be showstopper.

kikuyu1:


Btw,you were supposed to be here in September-are you still coming....

NTSA:
When was the last time Russia lost its own territory?

kabe1:
Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria @ 62

Lurker4Long:


The Kenyans came here. Announcement coming soon on 3-way deal in the medical field involving SA, Indian and Kenyan pharma companies.

5-axis machines rely on a tool that moves in five different directions — X, Y, and Z, as well as A and B, around which the tool rotates. Using a 5-axis CNC machine lets operators approach a part from all directions in a single operation, eliminating the need to manually reposition the workpiece between operations.

Inconels are a class of nickel-chrome-based super alloys characterized by high corrosion resistance, oxidation resistance, strength at high temperatures, and creep resistance. Inconel is able to withstand elevated temperatures and extremely corrosive environments due to two factors.

“In the last 15 years we've gone over to CNC machining, and we now exceed 80 CNC machines – probably the largest number of CNC machines in one place in South Africa,” he states proudly. The factory features a number of processing and machining plants, as well as a testing laboratory.

Hurco has been active in South Africa since 2005 when a local representative introduced Hurco CNC machines to the country. In 2008, Hurco South Africa (Pty) Ltd was officially established as subsidiary of Hurco Europe Ltd to demonstrate a clear, long term commitment to support the growing number of machines and clients in the country......As of 2020, there are more than 200 Hurco machines installed at numerous sites throughout South Africa with many clients having the confidence to place repeat orders for additional machines.

Since 2012, DI has produced almost 60 aircraft and helicopters. The company has exported its products to South Korea, Senegal and Thailand.

NTSA:

What kind of vehicle is that on the first pic?

NTSA:

What kind of vehicle is that on the first pic?

kikuyu1:
We're in a new geopolitical landscape!

The new Italian PM publicly excoriates Maricon (spp) over his nations longstanding sliminess in France Afrique.

[url][https://twitter.com/i/status/1575111634107801601/url]

Til very recently such things were left unsaid as part of the rules of play of the global rulers playbook. Guys,ishyt is changing!

Edit: Just so you all know I've NOTHING against the French but its obvious Jean-Fraude is a slimy mofo.

NTSA:

From a security stand point something is off considering the highrise buildings the background.Maybe Terrror threats on this side has made our ceremonial landlovers have bullet proof glass.

NTSA:

From a security stand point something is off considering the highrise buildings in the background.Maybe Terrror threats on this side has made our ceremonial landlovers have bullet proof glass.

NTSA:

What kind of vehicle is that on the first pic?

Tinfoil:
Question for those in S.Africa and Kenya, I saw that they used telescopes in the two countries to observe the DART mission (https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/dart/dart-news/). Check the video below.

Does anyone know if the telescopes are government controlled?

Does anyone know their location?

Tinfoil:
Question for those in S.Africa and Kenya, I saw that they used telescopes in the two countries to observe the DART mission (https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/dart/dart-news/). Check the video below.

Does anyone know if the telescopes are government controlled?

Does anyone know their location?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg4DiOmKlVM

Faithful007:
The telescope was built around January by NASA. It is operated by the University of Hawaii as part of their ATLAS network.

BTW, I find it strange that your first question is "are the telescopes government controlled?". If it is American paranoia, then you are taking it to unnecessary levels. There are many science projects going on in the US by foreign universities. No one asks if they are government controlled. Meanwhile the US and SA have stable relationships and also SA's tertiary education and research is arguably the best in Africa. It was built somewhere called Sutherland, Northern Cape, SA.

I don't think NASA built any telescope in Kenya.

Lurker4Long:


There you go:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Astronomical_Observatory

Faithful007:
The telescope was built around January by NASA. It is operated by the University of Hawaii as part of their ATLAS network.

BTW, I find it strange that your first question is "are the telescopes government controlled?". If it is American paranoia, then you are taking it to unnecessary levels. There are many science projects going on in the US by foreign universities. No one asks if they are government controlled. Meanwhile the US and SA have stable relationships and also SA's tertiary education and research is arguably the best in Africa. It was built somewhere called Sutherland, Northern Cape, SA.

I don't think NASA built any telescope in Kenya.

Nemesis4you:
Wow at the inferiority complex on display

Can't believe my eyes
and can't believe no one countered it till now

Lurker4Long:

Nemesis4you:


Not the telescope posts incase u miss identified

Anyways what happened to the square kilometer array SKA project ?

Faithful007:
You need to forget all these silly stories being paraded by West Africans and far-right empty-headed politicians if you really want to see the world as it is. Even if France leaves those countries completely, nothing will change.

Brookings, Carnegie and others had predicted several years ago on how many West African countries will become politically unstable. France, the US and co felt that they could stabilize the region with USAID, military assistance and other activities while gaining allies. Now these have to a large extent failed to stem the lack of progress and resource strain in the region.

Due to colonial and slavery past as well as the rising ideological differences between the West and West Africa. Suspicion is rising and the West is starting to take blames. Relating with sub-Saharan Africa is becoming very tricky. Even China's economic involvement in central and west Africa started to generate conspiracy about colonization.

Russia is becoming an interesting topic for some countries. But Russia does not have the economic strength of the West or China to invest in Africa. Basically they just prefer to gain the favor of autocratic leaders in Africa. That way, they don't have to keep a large footprint and risk falling out of favor.

But little will change in terms of development. Truth is, only a region's people will determine socio-economic rise, and not a foreign country.