Aerospace and defence technology company Paramount Group has updated its Marauder armoured personnel carrier (APC) by introducing a universal hull, interchangeable dashboard modules and steering wheel components.

While the Marauder can be configured as an APC or as an infantry combat vehicle through the addition of appropriate weapon systems, the Mark 2 upgrades in the Marauder’s driver interface will dynamically enhance crew capability and vehicle performance during diverse missions such as peacekeeping, border patrol, counter-insurgency or national defence, the company says.

Operational with armed forces across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South East Asia, these latest enhancements will enable the Marauder to be manufactured in either left- or right-hand-drive configurations, from the same hull and component sets on the same production line.

This will further unlock the ability to convert left-hand-drive versions of the Marauder to right-hand drive (and vice versa), in under two hours’ time, should operational needs (such as peacekeeping deployments in foreign countries) require.

This makes the Marauder Mark 2 highly applicable to the asymmetrical challenges of the modern battlefield, Paramount states.

The advancements incorporated within the Mark 2 edition of the vehicle will also result in faster rates of production and delivery to the company’s future customers globally.

“Impressive developments in man-machine interfaces often go unnoticed; however, the systems we have incorporated within the new Marauder Mark 2 have made great strides in improving ergonomics, comfort and functionality,” comments Paramount Land Systems CEO Deon Grobler.

The improvements in the Marauder’s operator interfaces will increase usability when operating in rugged conditions, while simultaneously reducing driver and crew fatigue, making the platform more comfortable and user-friendly, keeping troops safe and battle ready, he adds.

The multi-role Marauder features double-skin armour, proven and reliable drive lines and a burst speed of 110 km/h.

It remains fully operational in extreme conditions from -20 ^oC to more than 50 ^oC, and can be deployed with efficiency for both long-range or quick-reaction operations.

Day and night vision devices and extra sensors can also be fitted to provide 24/7 operability.

The Marauder Mark 2 also offers significant mine and ballistic protection for its crew of two in the front cockpit, and up to eight fully-equipped soldiers in the rear.

The vehicle is also equipped with specially designed anti-blast seats, which prevent injury from the extreme acceleration of a side blast or mine blast under the hull.

In addition, the Marauder can further be airlifted from, for example, a C130 Hercules transport aircraft or Chinook helicopter, with little preparation.

Since the vehicle was first launched at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, in Abu Dhabi, in February 2007, Paramount has supplied Marauders to its partners and sovereign governments around the world, including in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique and Singapore.

“In keeping with our 27-year record of manufacturing innovative solutions to optimising our customers’ response capabilities to the threats faced in Africa and around the world, we are also pleased to report that we have today increased our own speed of production,” says Grobler.

The increased rate of production enables Paramount to manufacture vehicles for stock purposes, as opposed to manufacturing based on customer orders. “[This enables us to] deliver faster solutions for those partners with urgent demands, whether they are operating right- or left-hand-drive vehicles,” he concludes.