At AAD 2018, the International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, the South African Defense Company Paramount Group has announced a partnership with Singapore’s ST Engineering for the development of new wheeled armored vehicle under the name of BELREX based on the Marauder 4x4 mine protected vehicle designed and developed by Paramount Group.
Belrex 4x4 mine protected armored vehicle (Picture source ST Engineering)
During an exclusive interview with Army Recognition Defense Web TV during AAD 2018, Ivor Ichikowitz Executive Chairman of Paramount Group said the new Belrex family will include ten variants including security, engineering, reconnaissance, logistics, fuel, mortar, medical, signal, maintenance and mortar ammunition carrier.
The two companies have now entered into a collaboration agreement to bring the family of Belrex vehicles to the global market.
Mr Tung Yui Fai, President of Defense Business at ST Engineering’s Land Systems arm, said “We are pleased to be able to apply our design and engineering know-how in armored vehicles to develop and produce ten variants. We believe the Belrex Protected Vehicle, with its variants, will be a key asset to armed forces and para-military, offering protected mobility transport for combat and non-combat operational requirements.”
Ivor Ichikowitz, Group Chairman of Paramount Group said ““Singapore is one of the most sophisticated defense procurement markets. It is with great pride that we have partnered with ST Engineering, a leader in defense technologies that is admired around the world. It is through strategic alliances like this that the defense industry can design innovative and future-proof technologies for which there is a world-wide demand in an era of unprecedented asymmetrical threats and conflicts.”
In November 2016, the Singapore Army commissioned Belrex Protected Combat Support Vehicles (PCSV). The base platform comes in three basic crew compartment sizes – four, eight and ten. In addition to a remote machine gun and a smoke grenade launcher, the vehicle is also equipped with a suite of C4 systems, enabling co-operative engagement with other land combat platforms as part of a networked force.
Classified as MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) class, the four-wheeled armoured vehicle provides motorized infantry combat support and combat service support forces with improved firepower, protection and situational awareness to enhance their survivability. It is highly flexible, and can be configured to carry combat loads for a variety of combat support and logistical functions.
