Global Defense company Paramount Group and India based Engineering & Technology conglomerate Bharat Forge Limited, announced a cooperation that will see them join the technologies, capabilities and expertise of both groups in order to manufacture Armoured Vehicles in India. An agreement to this effect was signed by both companies during the International Defence Expo (IDEX 2021) held in Abu Dhabi. It is intended that the ‘Kalyani M4′ will see service with the Indian Armed Forces in the very near future. The Kalyani M4 successfully completed a series of extreme vehicle trials in some of the toughest environments in India.
Mr Ivor Ichikowitz, Chairman of Paramount Group stated: “All of our technologies have been developed with portable production in mind. We believe this model of world-beating innovative technology is fundamental to enhancing any country’s contemporary defence, and technology capabilities. The Kalyani M4 is based on one of our flagship armoured vehicles designed specifically for in-country production in India with our partners the Kalyani Group. We are proud that it will be made in India.”
Mr. Amit Kalyani, Deputy Managing Director, Bharat Forge Ltd said, “We are very pleased to partner with Paramount Group. This collaboration brings together the manufacturing and technology excellence of two leading companies, which have matching synergies and complementary capabilities. The Kalyani M4 is a fantastic new generation vehicle, and we want to position it as the ‘future of protection’ in all markets world-wide.”
Kalyani M4 is a derivative of Paramount’s Mbombe M4. The Mbombe is a mine-protected, high-mobility armoured fighting vehicle produced by Paramount Group from South Africa that was launched in 2010. “Mbombe” is named after an African warrior. Kalyani M4 is rated at STANAG Level 3 for the engine compartment and similar ballistic protection for the crew compartment, which means its armour can resist penetration from 7.62×51mm armour piercing rounds at 30 meters with 930 m/s and an 8 kg anti-tank mine. It also has a V-shaped hull that protects it from underbelly mine and IED blast. The hardened glass viewports can even withstand sniper and anti-materiel rifle fire.
