Nigerian Air Forces receives Marauder MRAP

The Nigerian Air Force  has received an undisclosed number of Marauder mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles from South Africa’s Paramount Group.

Nigeria’s Marauders are fitted with the King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) Snake Head turret with a 7.62mm machine gun. Paramount and Jordan’s KADDB have worked together on vehicles in the past, with KADDB fitting its turrets to a number of Paramount vehicles, including the Mbombe.

Senior Vice President of Paramount Group, Eric Ichikowitz, stated that, “We are privileged to work alongside the Nigerian Air Force, commending, through the acquisition and deployment of the Marauder, their continued commitment to enhancing their national defence and internal security capabilities and prowess. 

“Nigeria’s Government also understands not only the leadership role they play in international peacekeeping missions across the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], but indeed how to effectively address the evolutionary nature of those cross-regional challenges posed by threats such as organized insurgencies.”

The 15 tonne Marauder can be reconfigured as either a troop carrier or combat vehicle. It features a double-skinned hull throughout its cabin and crew compartment to protect it against a wide range of kinetic threats. The vehicle can also withstand a side blast (IED or roadside bomb) equivalent to 50 kg of explosives. The Marauder is further equipped with specially designed anti-blast seats, which prevent injury from the extreme acceleration of a side blast or mine blast under the hull.