Agrale starts deliveries of Marrua utility vehicles to the Namibia Defence Force

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Defence & Security News - Namibia
 
 
Friday, December 12, 2014 09:05 AM
 
Agrale starts deliveries of Marrua utility vehicles to the Namibia Defence Force
The Namibia Defence Force (NDF) has ordered 141 Marrua utility vehicles from Brazil’s Agrale, with deliveries already underway, reported Africa-focused website defenceWeb. Agrale sales director Flavio Crosa said in a release late last month that several Marruas were sent to Namibia in 2013 for demonstration purposes and that the Namibia Defence Force ordered the vehicle due to its robust design and durability.
     
The Namibia Defence Force (NDF) has ordered 141 Marrua utility vehicles from Brazil’s Agrale, with deliveries already underway, reported Africa-focused website defenceWeb. Agrale sales director Flavio Crosa said in a release late last month that several Marruas were sent to Namibia in 2013 for demonstration purposes and that the Namibia Defence Force ordered the vehicle due to its robust design and durability. Agrale Marrua utility vehicle
     
Several different models are being supplied to Namibia, including the four seat AM11 VTNE, AM11 VTL Rec armed reconnaissance version, AM21 VTNE pickup and AM23 VTNE ¾ ton pickup. Agrale said that the first 60 vehicles had bee due to arrive in Namibia before the end of November.

The contract also includes a maintenance and spares agreement, and technical training. Crosa said Agrale would provide training, after-sales service and monitoring to ensure the Namibian vehicles are kept in good condition.

The Marrua (‘wild bull’) family of 4x4 utility vehicles can be used for a variety of roles, such as troop transport, command and control, reconnaissance etc. Weapons options can include 7.62 or 12.7 mm machineguns, anti-tank missile launchers or a 106 mm recoilless rifle. Agrale said the Namibian vehicles would be powered by MWM Sprint diesel engines delivering 140 hp.

The Marrua is also in service with militaries of Brazil (since 2005), Ecuador and Argentina and Argentine vehicles are used by the United Nations in Haiti.

Agrale has an existing partnership with Namibia, as Namibia’s Windhoeker Maschinenfabrik (WMF) in 2011 partnered with the Brazilian company to assemble its vehicles, including tractors. At the African Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in September this year WMF exhibited for the first time a Marrua vehicle. Meanwhile in South Africa, OTT Technologies offers a Marrua 4x4 light armoured vehicle with a ballistic cab.

(Source: defenceWeb)