Company insight
A fleet fit for a changing world
The demands of modern warfare are constantly changing. Different terrains, different types of enemy, and constantly evolving tactics mean a versatile and robust fl eet of vehicles to support deployments are not only desirable, but are a necessity. DSSI asks Abri Du Plessis, CEO of vehicle systems supplier NIMR, how this balance can be achieved.
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t seems as if the readiness of modern armed forces is constantly in search of balance. After many years of preparing to face terrorist or guerrilla tactics, now the threat of more conventional, large- scale conflicts has reared its head once more. If nothing else, the war in Ukraine is proving that forces must now be prepared for anything.
This puts great pressure on armies to choose the right kinds of vehicles to support effective deployment in a range of scenarios. They must be sufficiently versatile to perform effectively in the heat or the cold, in the desert or in the mountains. Furthermore, they must be able to withstand the explosive force of an IED and be able to evade the threat of a more powerful weapon like a round from a tank or MANPADS. “The conflict in Ukraine has caught our attention and everyone is watching closely the technology, the tactics and the strategy,” says Abri Du Plessis, CEO of NIMR, a prominent manufacturer of versatile, combat-proven light and medium-weight wheeled military vehicles. “We have to accept the harsh reality that there is almost no amount of armoured steel that can protect you against some weapons.” “Shoulder-launched systems can penetrate a main battle tank of 40–60 tonnes, so what chance does a normal utility vehicle have?” he asks. “You can’t include passive protection for that, so you must firstly avoid being targeted. Then it is all about detecting a threat using add-on systems, including laser-detection, and the ability to launch smoke grenades and get
The AJBAN LRSOV is a 4x4 ballistic and blast-protected light tactical patrol vehicle.
away, as well as incorporating more active defensive systems, like use of suicide drones such as the Switchblade.”
Abri Du Plessis, CEO, NIMR
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Test, trial, improve, qualify Established in 2000, based in the UAE, and part of the EDGE Group, UAE and Platforms and Systems Cluster, NIMR has a range of battle-proven, light and medium- weight ground vehicle platforms that are known for their field-tested versatility, ruggedness and high performance. The AJBAN is a 4x4 ballistic and blast- protected light tactical patrol vehicle for a crew of five, with mine-blast protection and a ballistic-protected rear cargo compartment, as well as the option of a roof-mounted self-defence weapon. The HAFEET is a 6x6 vehicle capable of reaching 110km/h top speed, and providing STANAG 4569 AEP-55 standard blast protection. The JAIS is a next-generation Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle that balances firepower, survivability and mobility for modern, conventional and asymmetric operations. At the last IDEX international defence conference, NIMR showcased the next iteration of the AJBAN and the HAFEET,
and it is now hard at work on the JAIS MK2. “Since then, we have benchmarked against other vehicles and highlighted areas of possible improvement to make them more competitive,” says du Plessis. “The main areas are, first and foremost, protection from landmines, grenades, ballistic weapons and IEDs, and to upgrade the electrical systems to a more modern, open version for command, control, communications and intelligence (C3I) capability.” Adding ABS systems has also been a
priority, along with increasing payload capacity – always a key demand from clients – without compromising manoeuvrability. “We set demanding goals, and we wanted to make these improvements while keeping the same price as the MK1 vehicles,” du Plessis adds. “Now, we are continuing that journey, leading with the AJBAN, which has undergone two trials with UAE armed forces in August 2021 and August 2022.” “This involved stringent testing in harsh conditions, on gravel roads, in desert and wadis,” he continues, “They were wonderful tests and trials for us to do, as they enabled us to quickly pick up on any issues and drive evolutionary changes to make our
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
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