Mbombe for Jordan
Extended evaluation tests have been completed and the Mbombe 6x6 armored combat vehicle is ready for production. The South African company Paramount Group and Jordan's KADDB (King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau) signed at IDEX on February 23, 2015 the main contract for the production of the first 50 Mbombe machines.
“Mbombe's production in Jordan is an important indicator of the continued growth potential of the defense industry in the Middle East,” said Major General Omar Al Kaldi, Chief Executive Officer of KADDB. “By integrating our technology, engineering staff and experience, we bring innovation to the industry.”
The signing of the contract comes after extended tests conducted in the desert at 50 ° C in Jordan and the UAE, and in winter in Kazakhstan at -50 ° C. The Mbombe has been successfully tested and passed over 10,000 km in the harshest and most adverse conditions.
Satisfied with Jordan's decision to choose the South African development of the Mbombe 6x6, Paramount Founder and CEO Ivor Ichikovits noted a long history of cooperation with Jordan. “It is with great joy that we support the development of the defense industry in Jordan, which will contribute to increased employment, skills development and technology transfer, and training.”
Unlike most South African mine-protected vehicles, Mbombe uses flat bottom technology and, for the first time, has comprehensive protection against a variety of threats. In addition to ballistic protection against 14.5 mm machine gun bullets, the vehicle also protects against splinters from 155 mm artillery shells. With protection corresponding to the 4th level according to the STANAG standard, the machine can withstand the detonation of a 10 kg mine under the body or wheel and the explosion of an improvised explosive device weighing 50 kg.
Long Range Fire Power
MLRS AR3 with two launch containers of four 370 mm missiles
China's North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) unveiled its latest AR3 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at IDEX this year. The system is mounted on an 8x8 chassis, which not only has very good high mobility, but also offers strategic mobility. This allows you to quickly move the system wherever you need it. According to NORINCO, the complete AR3 system weighs 45 tonnes and has a highway range of 650 km. The chassis carries two launch containers of four 370 mm missiles or two containers of five 300 mm missiles. Also, the installation can accept both guided and unguided missiles. At IDEX 2015, a variant with 370-mm missiles is presented.
There are at least three types of 300 mm unguided rockets: BRC3 with a maximum range of 70 km with a cluster warhead; BRC4 with a maximum range of 130 km and a cluster warhead; and BRE2 with a maximum range of 130 km with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The BRE3 (or FD140A) is a 300mm guided missile with a maximum range of 130 km.
For this MLRS, there are two 370 mm missiles: BRE6 (FD220) with a maximum range of 220 km and BRE8 (FD280) with a maximum radius of 280 km. For this type of weapon, the declared circular probable deviation is 30 meters. The abbreviation FD stands for "Fire Dragon", followed by the maximum range of the rocket. This family of missiles allows the AR3 MLRS to destroy targets at a distance of 20-280 km.
In order to improve accuracy, the AR3 system is equipped with a computerized fire control system, as well as a ground navigation system. This allows the system to take position, open fire and leave position much faster and therefore increase the chances of survival in the event of possible counter-battery fire.
MLRS AR3 can be deployed as a standalone system, as part of a standard battery of six installations, or integrated with other artillery systems.
MLRS AR3 can fire these high-precision guided missiles at extended distances
Chun-mu MLRS are being delivered
The South Korean Army is currently receiving the Doosan DST Chun-Mu multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) (Stand 12-B11 at IDEX 2015), which began serial production in October 2014. Doosan DST is the main contractor and systems integrator, and Hanwa supplies rockets for the system.
MLRS Chun-Mu offers a qualitative change in the capabilities of the Korean army in comparison with the previous systems currently in service with the army of this country. The complex is installed on an 8x8 off-road truck chassis, it is more mobile, shoots missiles with greater accuracy at long distances.
Scale model of MLRS Chun-mu
A powered launcher is installed at the rear of the platform. The two launch pods are loaded with six 239 mm solid-propellant rockets, which are assumed to have a range of at least 80 km. The MLRS has a computerized fire control system, and to increase the range of the missile, they are equipped with a GPS / INS (global positioning system / inertial navigation system) guidance system. In addition, the system can fire unguided rockets in order to create a zone of continuous fire.
New containers with missiles are charged quickly enough using the onboard loading system. Transport and launch containers are transported on the same 8x8 truck as the Chun-Mu MLRS. The vehicle has a fully protected cockpit, air conditioning and a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction.
In order to increase off-road cross-country ability, the car has an independent suspension and a system of centralized wheel inflation with combat-resistant inserts.
The latest version of the Freccia BMP presented at IDEX 2015
Standard serial infantry fighting vehicle Freccia produced by the Italian concern CIO with a two-man turret armed with a 25-mm cannon and 7, 62-mm machine gun
The CIO Consortium (Consortium Iveco Fiat-Oto Melara) brought its latest Freccia 8x8 in BMP configuration to IDEX 2015 in order to offer this machine for the first time to meet the potential needs of the region. Freccia is mass-produced for the Italian army under two contracts, one for 249 vehicles and the other for 381 vehicles. More than 220 vehicles have already been delivered.
The Freccia BMP has a twin turret armed with an Oerlikon 25mm double feed cannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and the same machine gun on its roof. Other armament options include the ATK Mk44 30mm cannon and anti-tank guided missiles mounted on either side of the turret.
In the BMP configuration, in addition to a crew of three, the vehicle also accommodates eight paratroopers. More specialized options for the Freccia include a reconnaissance, command post and self-propelled 120mm mortar.
The consortium also proposes an armored personnel carrier option, while a specialized amphibious version has been developed for the Italian army and the Marine Corps. With the participation of BAE Systems, it has been further refined to meet the requirements of the US Marine Corps.
The CIO consortium has also achieved significant success with its 105mm Centauro Mobile Gun Systems (MGS) self-propelled artillery mount. A total of 400 of these SPGs were supplied to the Italian army. Another 84 vehicles were sold to Spain, which also received four armored recovery vehicles.
As for the Middle East, the CIO consortium supplies 141 Centauro MGS self-propelled guns to the Jordanian Armed Forces. They were removed from storage as they proved to be redundant for the Italian army. Oman bought nine Centauro self-propelled guns armed with a 120mm smoothbore cannon.
In the meantime, in order to replace the current production model, the CIO consortium is developing a new generation of self-propelled installation Centauro 2. Recently, extended military tests of the first Centauro 2 have been completed.
