Paramount Group, Africa’s largest privately held defense and aerospace company, yesterday said it launched its latest vehicle: the Marauder Patrol, at the African Aerospace and Defense Conference in South Africa.
The Marauder Patrol builds on the proven success of the Marauder to set a new standard in protected utility vehicles, combining mobility and high levels of protection into a versatile platform, the company said in a statement. The mine-protected and agile multi-role Marauder has been in production since 2008.
The ballistically protected Marauder Patrol is aimed at special forces, the military and police that require an agile and quick response vehicle for use in tough environments.
The Marauder Patrol vehicle is based on commercial-off-the-shelf driveline components. Maintenance and support are available through commercial dealer networks.
Marauder Patrol has a deliberately designed non-aggressive appearance, a visual aid for special forces, peacekeepers and police operating in sensitive environments.
The Marauder Patrol is protected to NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) Level 1 ballistic protection, meaning it can stop shell fragments as well as 7.62mm and 5.56mm bullets.
For those wanting more protection, there is an option to increase ballistic protection to STANAG Level 2, without impacting the performance of the vehicle.
The vehicle comes in either a five-door SUV version that can carry nine people or a four-door double cab pick-up model that can carry a maximum of five people.
Both versions are available with optional extras such as run-flat tire inserts, communications systems, add-on armor, various weapons stations and automatic transmission.
Other key design elements are crew comfort and ergonomics and the vehicle is fully air-conditioned with plenty of space for tools, medical supplies and communications equipment.
Miles Chambers, business development director of Paramount Group, said: “Marauder Patrol breaks new ground in the utility vehicle market because it offers high levels of protection combined with unprecedented mobility and supportability…This vehicle proves that when it comes to armored vehicles South Africa has the heritage and experience to make some of the most innovative solutions in the world.”