Company insight
vehicles fit for customers. It is a process of testing, trialling, improving and qualifying.” The AJBAN MK2 is now fully tested, having substantially improved its level of protection against all types of threat, so NIMR is now focused on industrialising the production process so that the new model is ready for delivery. A little further behind in the production process is the MK2 HAFEET, which has been configured to carry a higher payload and offer more protection without increasing the price tag.
“The testing of AJBAN helped us realise that we can’t develop both vehicles at the same pace,” says du Plessis. “We are now using what we learned from AJBAN and bringing them to the HAFEET MK2, which will be ready for production by the end of the year.”
“For the JAIS MK2, we worked less on protection, as it already provides a very high level of protection,” he continues. “The focus is more on enhancing and improving the electrical systems, which will use the same open architecture as all our other vehicles. We expect the MK2 to go into production in Q2 2023.”
Bigger, better, faster, stronger One of the key changes in the MK2 versions of NIMR’s fleet is the move away from chassis-based designs. All vehicles now use monocoque designs, in which the chassis is integral with the body. This results in a saving on weight as well as higher levels of protection. Similarly, NIMR has been tweaking variables such as axle load to enable each vehicle to carry more empty mass and a bigger payload capability, while maintaining or improving manoeuvrability. Crucially, these improvements must be consistent in any environment – from desert sands to the snows of northern Europe. “When you do these trials, you very quickly see where you need better cooling in extreme heat,” says du Plessis. “To keep vehicles cool enough to operate – including the internal environment and the ergonomic performance of the vehicle – in more than 50°C – and keep elements such as drivetrain cool is a big challenge.”
“These kinds of trials also test the reliability of a new vehicle,” he adds. “We need to know whether a vehicle will last for the next 15 or 20 years, so we need to quickly spot areas where potential failures might occur. We also get to work with the armed forces to evaluate the maintainability
NIMR’s AJBAN MK2.
and serviceability of the vehicles, all of which now have the new feature of powerpack protection. We need to know that, with this new feature, the vehicle is still easy to service and maintain.” The many small changes that have been made across the NIMR range because of the trials with the UAE armed forces have resulted in new models that are ready for production and can be handed over to customers with the confidence that they will perform with high levels of reliability in any environment.
The next step for NIMR is to take this new fleet to a wider audience by building on its existing network of technology transfer relationships. Joint venture partner NIMR Algeria is currently engaged in that transfer of technology, and a new licence agreement for JAIS in Saudi Arabia is providing new insight into that process. “We have now identified a few countries where the environment is ripe for this kind of technology transfer, and some will serve as entry points into the European market,” du Plessis explains. “We must have a local partner and do a technology transfer to enter that market, and there are some opportunities in Eastern Europe for vehicles in our weight class and with our level of protection, so we are actively in discussion with a number of potential partners.”
A platform for progress
As it reaches out to new markets, NIMR can leverage its membership of the EDGE Group, which exists to bring innovative technologies and services to market with greater speed and efficiency.
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
With more than 20 entities across four core clusters, NIMR can benefit from cross-collaboration opportunities. For instance, it can call upon the skills of LAHAB in the design, development and production of medium and large-calibre munitions and weapons systems, or work with HALCON to integrate its precision- guided missile systems. Currently, EDGE Group entity, AL TAIF, the UAE’s leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for military equipment, is developing enhanced power distribution units (PDUs) for NIMR vehicles. “Within this network, we can also focus on creating variants of the AJBAN and HAFEET to expand the product range by leveraging the MK2 versions while keeping the family connections between the vehicles,” explains du Plessis. “For example, we could develop a utility version with a container or shelter on the back.” “We are also looking at emerging technologies including in electrification, where there is still a long way to go,” he adds. “Like most of our competitors, we are also looking at the possibility of unmanned vehicles and we are working with the automated robotic vehicle (ARV) concept. The ideas are not mature yet, but we have to look to the future and see what is beyond the horizon.”
Change is always coming but NIMR has shown itself ready to adapt while bringing an updated range of vehicles to market. Versatility and adaptability are its core values, and never were they more urgently required. ●
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