SA defence group Paramount says Nato market has ‘opened’

Paramount Group – the South African-founded defence company headquartered in Midrand, Gauteng – says a widening rift between the US and its European allies is opening up new markets, including with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members.

The private company, now active in about 30 nations, traditionally focused on selling its products, such as armoured vehicles, across Africa and in developing nations such as Jordan, Ecuador and Kazakhstan.

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There are now opportunities in Europe, according to Deon Grobler, who leads Paramount’s international vehicle business and product development.

“We are definitely seeing shifts,” Grobler said Wednesday at the Gerotek testing facility west of South Africa’s capital, Pretoria.

“There were no Nato markets two years ago. That has definitely opened up. All of a sudden spending has changed completely out of Europe.”

The opportunity to profit in Nato amid European nations’ waning confidence in the US coincides with a collapse in military spending in South Africa.

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That has added further impetus to the company’s international expansion.

Partnerships

Through its Greek unit, Paramount is already working with local partner MAC HUB in Ukraine to manufacture armoured vehicles.

The venture’s MAC OWL armoured vehicle was certified for use by Ukraine’s armed forces in June, Paramount said in a statement at the time.

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The MAC OWL is based on Paramount’s Mbombe 4 Infantry Combat Vehicle, a four-wheel, 16-tonne mine-protected truck with a top speed of 140km/hour and a range of 800km.

Paramount, founded in 1994, also produces the six- and eight-wheel Mbombe infantry combat vehicles, the Marauder and Maatla armoured cars, and the Maverick and Marshall public order and internal security vehicles.

Paramount’s Marauder armoured personnel carrier. Image: Bloomberg

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Grobler says the company is increasingly focusing on protection from drones as well as mines.

Paramount is also working with MAC HUB to manufacture and sell its MAC Dead Fly interceptor drone and KATRAN uncrewed surface vessel in Europe and Africa.

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Other foreign deals include armoured car manufacturing with a local partner in the Czech Republic and an upcoming light armoured multipurpose vehicle made with an Indian partner, to be unveiled at an exhibition next month in Pretoria.

“Our portable production model allows South African technology and intellectual property to be combined with local manufacturing and industrial partnerships in international markets,” said Mathews Phosa, chair of Paramount’s South African unit.

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